


















































COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 














The Pastime Series. — Issued monthly. By subscription, $3.00 per annum. No. 100, May, 1893. 
Entered at Chicago P. O. as second-class matter. 



RE.D HAND or the, ^ 

CRUISER OF THE CHANNEL 

By. SYLVflNUS COBB, JR. 

4 


Chicago 

LAIRD & LEE, Publishers 

1893 







rescue of Lady Catharine.—page 12 































































RED HAND 


BY 

SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. 

) • 


Authoi' ’>f “The Gunmakek of Moscow,’’ “The Abmoheb 
OF Tyre,” etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 


COPYRIGHT 1893, BY LAIRD & LEE 



) > ) 

Chicago 

LAIRD & lee" publishers 


\ ; r:- 





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RED HAND. 


CHAPTER I. 

CASTLE VANE. A YOUNG FISHERMAN. 

O N the shore of the Sussex, there is no object that fills 
with a deeper interest the eye of the tourist, both on 
account of its picturesque aspect and its historical associa¬ 
tions, than Castle Vane. At the present time it is a stately 
ruin, but majestic in decay. Time, while rending its mas¬ 
sive towers, has also bound them together with a strong 
net-work of vines of ivy and creeping plants, so that they 
stand like venerable age supported by the entwining arm of 
charity and filial love. 

The prospect from the eminence on which stands this 
noble ruin is varied and wide-extended. Northwardly, the 
green vales and pleasant uplands of “ Merry England ” 
retire away till softly lost in the dissolving distance. To the 
east and west are seen turreted towns and ports with 
anchored shipping and defending fortress. To the south is 
outspread the shining blue waters of the channel, broad and 
mirror-like, and bounded in the far southern horizon by the 
faint azure-gray line of the coast of Normandy. The glim¬ 
mering sheen of the sun-lit channel is spotted with innumer¬ 
able specks, some white as snowflakes, others black, as they 




6 


hed hakd. 


•I 

i 


present their illumined or shadowy side to the eye. There 
are vessels of all sizes and characters, steering every one on 
a different course, some on errands of commerce, others 
hearing messages of war. Here and there among them goes 
a dark, mastless craft, trailing a long cloud of opaque smoke 
after her along the air, and passing ship aftei ship with a 
speed that mocks them. 

Such is the present aspect of the scenery visible from the 
cliff on which stands Castle Vane, on any bright morning in 
summer. But at the period of our tale, its features were 
somewhat different. Ho steamers then ploughed the chan¬ 
nel, and fewer vessels were seen dotting its expanse; while 
Castle Vane, instead of being a ruin, lifted its walls and 
towers and bristling battlements as high and proudly as any 
lordly castle in the land of England. 

Almost overhung by the castle was the small fishing port 
of Brighthelmstone, a hamlet of threescore huts, where dwelt 
a rude but honest class of men, who subsisted by fishing in 
the channel. From the terrace of the castle one could toss a 
penny into the chimney-tops of two or three of the nearest 
cottages, though the dwellings were generally some distance 
apart, following the windings of a street around the curving 
shore of the cove. There was an air of neatness and thrift 
about most of the habitations, each having a small garden- 
patch and a yard in front wherein to dry their nets and fish. 
If there were any superiority in the appearance of either of 
these cabins over the other, it was to be claimed by one 
which stood near the foot of the cliff, and close to the path 
which wound from the beach to its summit. This superiority 
consisted in its being whitewashed, and in having vines 
growing over the narrow doorway in imitation of an arch, 
beneath which were two wooden benches, from which persons 
seated upon them had a pleasant view of the channel with 
its moving craft. That spot, also, wherein the other fisher¬ 
men dried their nets, was by the proprietor of this abode 
made a flower-garden, while on the surrounding rocks were 
spread his nets and sun-dried fish. 


RED HAKD. 


1 


One evening in May, in the year 1650, about half an hour 
before sunset, a fishing-boat came sailing into the cove 
from the channel, and steered directly for the rude landing 
in front of the cottage we have described. Its bow was 
shattered, and it was evidently leaking freely, and kept from 
sinking only by the extraordinary exertions of a young fish¬ 
erman, its sole occupant, who was bailing out water con¬ 
stantly as he approached the shore. At length the smack 
touched the beach, and with an exclamation of satisfaction 
the young man leaped on shore. 

The danger in which the boat had been was apparent to 
more than one in the village, and encouraging shouts had 
been sent to the young man’s ear, to keep up his strength and 
not lose his courage. Therefore, on reaching the land in 
safety, he found himself in the midst of some score of a 
group, composed of the fishers’ wives, of maidens, and of 
such old men as had given over active service. Th^ looked 
at the shattered bow of the boat with surprise, and' while 
some congratulated him with having got safely to land, others 
eagerly inquired how he got so badly wrecked. 

“ It is of no consequence, friends,” answered the young 
man, as he secured the boat to one of the posts of the pier; 
“accidents will happen at sea, you know.” 

This was said with a pleasant laugh; but his mother, who 
drew near to welcome him after the danger she conceived 
he had been in from drowning—for he had been seen by her 
a league at sea, struggling to save his boat, which he had so 
gallantly brought in—knew that the smile was forced and 
unnatural to his usually frank and open face. 

“ There is something in this,” she said, shaking her head, 
and turning to two of her particular gossips, “ there is 
something in this matter more than Guilford sees fit to 
tell.” 

The young man, having secured the craft high upon the 
beach, and furled the sails, shouldered a pair of oars, and 
with flushed brow and a proud, defiant air, strode up towards 
the cottage, without regarding his friends, whom he left 



8 


RED HAND. 


examining the boat and wondering how it could have been 
so shattered unless it had been run into. 

“ That is it,” asserted an old fisherman, who had carefully 
examined the broken shearing; “ she ha’ been run into, an’ 
by a heavier craft than hersel’.” 

The young fisherman, having deposited his oars in the 
becket above one of the cottage windows, on the outside of 
the house, instead of going in, began to pace up and down 
in the shell-covered walk before it. His eyes were restless 
and fiery, his attitude erect and warlike, and his heavy steps 
seemed to fall to the sound of a trumpet. Something 
evidently had occurred to rouse in the bosom of the young 
fisherman all the pride, independence, and haughty resent¬ 
ment of the man; for beneath the fustian jacket may beat as 
much pride and sense of honor as beneath the ermine of a 
born noble. 

The appearance of the young fisherman was superior to 
that of young men in his class and occupation. This 
superiority did not consist in dress, for his clothing was as 
coarse and rude as that of any of his fellows; nor in the 
symmetry of his person, for there were in the hamlet as 
well-shaped young men as he; but it was in the noble 
expression of his whole form and face. He looked like one 
born rather to command those with whom he daily asso¬ 
ciated, than to be merely their equal. This innate power in 
him they recognized, though it was never demanded by him, 
for he seemed wholly unconscious of a superiority of which 
all others in the hamlet were instinctively conscious. His 
face was handsome, and perhaps not less so for being browned 
by the sea winds till it was almost as dark as the Arabian. 
His eyes were black, and filled with intelligence and courage. 
As a seaman he had no equal on the Sussex coast, of his 
age, all men acknowledged. As a fisherman he was skilled 
in the craft in all its details, so that no one ever surpassed 
him in success. If other boats came back empty, Guilford 
Graham’s was sure to contain some fruits of his skill an,d 
patience. In trials of strength and agility in those holiday 


RED hand. 


sports which the youths of the hamlet used to indulge in, 
challenging to competition some inland village, he always 
came off victor. For filial obedience in supporting a wid¬ 
owed mother, for manly protection of his beautiful cousin, 
Anne Grey, for his fast abiding as a friend, and his reverence 
for holy things, Guilford was an example to all the young 
men on the coast. His popular manners, his constant cheer¬ 
fulness and good nature, made him a general favorite; and 
many a pretty maiden sighed in her heart for the love of the 
handsome Guilford. 

“ What aileth thee, my son ? ” asked his mother. ‘‘ Some¬ 
thing hath gone across thy temper, and made thee vexed; 
tell me, what is the matter with thee ? ” 

He stopped in his fierce walk, turned, and taking both her 
hands in his, he pressed them in affectionate respect, and, 
looking her in the face, would have spoken, but some strong 
emotion rising, checked his utterance, and tears filled his 
eyes and ran down his cheeks. He released her hands, 
dashed the glittering drops from his face, and would have 
walked away, when she gently held him. 

“Nay, Guilford, you must come and sit down in the 
porch, and tell me what has happened. Tears in my brave 
boy’s eyes I Ah, something heavy has pressed upon thy 
soul this day, to force tears from thee I ” 

“ Come and sit down, mother, and I will tell thee,” he 
said, after a moment’s internal struggle. “ You are wise 
and discreet, and may be able to advise me. But you will 
not despise me when you shall know all my rash folly ? ” 

“You must first prove to me that you have been rash or 
foolish, who were never known to be so,” said his mother, 
who, though humble in station and poorly attired, seemed to 
be, as he had said, a wise and discreet woman, being a 
person of that plain common sense so much oftener found 
in low conditions of life than in the more artificial circles of 
society; and to her influence was owned, doubtless, his 
superiority,—for it is the woman that forms the character of 
the growing man. 


10 


RED HAND. 


CHAPTER II. 

A NARRATIVE OF INTEREST. 

The young man had led his mother to the wooden bench 
beneath the green arch that spanned the humble doorway, 
and there, sheltered by the growing foliage, he said to 
her:— 

“ Mother, when you have heard what I have to say, give 
me your wisest counsel. If I were to act, led only by my 
own impulses, I can see plainly that I should do a greater 
evil than has been done to me. You remember with what 
buoyancy I left this morning, to go on my daily fishing 
cruise ? ” 

“ Yes, and spoke of it to Anne before she went to the 
castle. Methinks I never saw you look handsomer or appear 
happier.” 

“And well might I have looked happy, dear mother; I 
had just seen and spoken with Lady Catharine I ” 

“ Yes, it always makes one cheerful to see her sunny face, 
boy.” 

“ Ah, dear mother, you know not how the sunshine of her 
face penetrates to and warms my heart. In her presence I 
feel a joy—a bliss—a happiness—that I experience at no 
other time. The sound of her voice thrills to my inmost 
soul. I feel that I could worship her, and adore the very 
flower crushed by her footstep.” 

“You should not speak thus, my boy; it is a sin to worship 
only God.” 

“ And the Virgin ? ” 

“That is not so certain, my boy,” she said, gravely but 
doubtingly; “ but if we may worship the blessed Mary, we 
may not worship earthly maidens.” 


RED HAND. 


11 


“ I can see no harm in adoring one so fair and good as the 
Lady Catharine, dear mother,” answered the young fisher¬ 
man, with enthusiasm. 

“ You should not think of her, my son, for your words and 
looks make me fear.” 

“ No evil can come of honoring and delighting in Lady 
Catharine, dear mother. She always speaks to me so gra¬ 
ciously I The day, you remember, when I succeeded in 
saving the noblemen who wer^ driven on the coast in a 
French bark, she told me she only wished that she could 
have had a brother who could have done this; and ever since 
then, although it is a year ago, she has always seemed to 
speak to me with a peculiar kindness.” 

“ One of them you saved was her uncle. Sir Harry Yane, 
and she feels grateful. My son, do not think of the great; 
their words are air, and their smiles deceit and guile. If 
you go on thinking so much about every smile and word a 
noble lady gives you, you will do some foolish thing. Forget 
the Lady Catharine, boy; and if you must think of fair 
maidens, which is natural enough for a youth of four-and- 
twenty, let it be of those of thine own station.” 

“ There are tales of noble maidens being loved and won 
by lowly youths, mother,” answered Guilford, with a certain 
light of hope and daring speaking in his fine eyes. 

“ And only in tales are they won—never in reality and 
truth, my son.” 

‘‘ We will not talk of this now, mother. Hear what I 
have to say to thee touching what hath happened to-day.” 

“ That is what I would most listen to.” 

“After I had embarked this morning for the channel 
grounds to fish, and when I had got out to the rocks over 
which we cast our lines, I lowered my sails and proceeded 
to fish as usual. It was a cloudless day, and the fish swam 
too deep for my hooks; and so I lay back listlessly in ray 
boat, and amused myself, as I love to do when I am rocking 
alone in my boat out on the bounding sea, with gazing 
about me. A hundred craft similar to my own were riding 


12 


RED SAND. 


gently upon the undulating waves; and here and there could 
be seen a tall ship with triple towers of white canvas, cross¬ 
ing from England to France, or from France to England. 
But those objects soon wearied my eyes, which very shortly 
rested upon the cliff and lordly towers that soar above our 
little hamlet. Its castellated angles and battlements were 
figured in strong, dark lines against the blue sky, and it 
seemed the proper home of the noble lord who dwells 
there.” 

“ You speak of our Castle Vane, my son ? ” 

“ Yes, mother. As my eye rested upon it, I could not 
but recall its fairest inmate, for I never behold it that I do 
not think less of every one it contains than of the Lady 
Catharine. To my imagination she seemed the only dweller 
there. Nay, do not frown, mother. As I was gazing on the 
castellated pile, I recalled, not only the lovely face and form 
of Lady Catharine, but the time when we first met. Do you 
remember it, dear mother ? ” 

“ Nay, I do not mind such little matters. It was so long 
ago thou shouldst scarce remind it.” 

“ I shall never forget it. It is a delight for me to recall 
it, and a joy to talk of it. It was five years ago only. I was 
then nineteen, and it was my birthday fete; and on that 
occasion you had presented me with a new jacket, and 
Cousin Anne had ’broidered for me a gay cap.” 

“ Ah, well do I recollect the jacket and cap, and how 
gallant you looked in them, my boy.” 

“ After supper I was going to a dance at Tim Dowlin’s in 
honor of his pretty daughter Peggy’s marriage, when, as I 
was crossing the road that leads from the beach round by the 
mill, in order to reach Tim’s before dark, I saw a horse com¬ 
ing towards me at full speed along the old Sussex road. On 
it was a young girl, who had lost all command of the animal, 
which, with the reins flying, was evidently running away 
with her. She did not shriek, nor speak a word, but, as she 
approached me, she cast on me such looks of appeal for 
succor, that, regardless of danger, I threw myself with both 





BED HAND. 


13 


hands upon the horse’s head, and, dropping to the ground, 
let him drag me several yards before he could be checked. 
At every leap forward he made, I expected to feel his iron 
hoofs crushing into my chest; but the beauty and imploring 
looks of the lovely girl, which seemed to appeal to me as her 
last and only hope of life, gave me courage and strength; 
and at length I brought the horse’s head and knees to the 
ground, and held him, with a power of muscle that I have 
never felt the possession of since, until she got from the 
saddle unharmed. I then released my hold of the horse, 
who furiously bounded away like the wind. My next thought 
was of the young girl I had been instrumental in saving. 
She sprang towards me, grasped me by both hands in the 
warmest manner, and with eyes filled with tears, and smiling 
with gratitude, she said, with emotion:— 

“ ‘ How can words thank youl How can anything I can 
express, young stranger, recompense you for the risk of life 
you have run for me! ’ 

“ ‘ I need no thanks, lady,’ I said to her; ‘ the consciousness 
of your safety is all the reward I can ask or wish for.’ 

“ As I made her this answer, I looked, dear mother, with 
wonder upon the extraordinary beauty of her face. I had 
never imagined there was such loveliness on earth. She 
was about fifteen years of age, but with the charming rich¬ 
ness of form of one two or three years older. Her eyes were 
a soft azure, that rivalled the bending blue of a summer sky 
on the sea. Her hood was thrown back, and her golden 
tresses dishevelled by the swiftness with which her horse 
had sped with her in his mad flight, and I was completely 
bewildered with the glory of her beauty. 

“ ‘ Will you tell me,’ she said, in tones that have never 
ceased to echo muscially in my soul, ‘ to whom I am indebted 
for saving me from a painful accident, or perhaps a dreadful 
death ? ’ 

“ ‘ It is no matter, lady; my name is nothing; it is humble, 
and, if spoken, will be forgotten by one so noble as thou 
art.’ 


14 


RED HAND. 


“ ‘ Dost thou know me, then ? ’ she asked, with a smile of 
surprise. ‘ I have not been here before since I was a very 
little child.’ 

I do not know thy name, lady, but I see that thou art of 
the high born of the land. I would, for thy sake, that he 
who has served thee to-day had been thy equal. Shall I 
remain near thee, as it is growing late, till thy party comes 
up ? ’ I asked of her, gloomily too, I fear; for I then, for the 
first time, my mother, felt what it was to be born of low 
degree. To gaze upon one so fair and good, and so made to 
be loved, and feel that I could never be more to her than a 
common hind—this—this made my cheek kindle and my 
very heart sink.” 

“ Guilford, thou art too ambitious; be content to be what 
thou art, or thou wilt be a miserable man. Thou canst not 
change thy nature. Nobles are born nobles—fishermen are 
born fishermen. Do thy duty in what thou art.” 

“ It is well to talk, mother, but that does not make one’s 
wretchedness and consciousness of debasement the less.” 

“ Go on with thy story, for I never heard all this before.” 

“ No, nor other ear, save that of Cousin Anne; and she 
listened to it with but little interest to what thou dost, 
mother.” 

“ Who was this maiden ? Am I right in guessing her to 
be the Lady Catharine, on the day she came up to the castle 
from London, where she had lived since she was a child ? ” 

“ Yes, mother. When I at length told her my name, she 
answered that hers was Kate Vane. 

“ ‘ Lady Kate, you mean ? ’ 

“ ‘ No,’ she said, ‘ plain Kate Vane; ’ and this, with the 
pretty way she spoke it, made me like her. I saw she was 
not proud, although I told her I was a fisherman; for when 
she asked me to show her the way to the castle, and we 
walked on together, she asked me a great many questions 
about the sea, and the fishes, and the way I caught them; 
and said, of all things she should like to go out some day in 
ray boat, fishing with me. After half an hour’s walk—tho 


RED HAND. 


15 


pleasantest half hour of my life—we reached the castle gate. 
The day had already closed, and the moon was shining 
brightly. The castle was in a scene of confusion and distress; 
and just as we entered, several persons with torches, on 
foot and on horseback, were coming forth, talking so loudly 
that we understood from their words that the horse which 
Lady Kate had ridden had reached the castle, and that it 
was supposed she had been thrown and killed. But when 
she was seen and recognized, who shall describe the joy! I 
was quite overlooked in the first outburst of the surprise 
and delight of all, and instantly withdrew. As I descended 
the path, I heard my name called by some one from the 
gate who had been sent for me, doubtless after Lady Kate 
had time to tell them to whom she had been indebted for 
her escape; but, as I had no wish to be thanked by any other 
than Lady Catharine, I quickened my pace, and soon reached 
the road on the beach. Instead of going home, I continued 
nSy original route to Tim’s; and as I passed the spot where I 
had stopped the horse, 1 paused to recall the scene, her face 
and voice. As I did so, my eyes were attracted by some¬ 
thing which sparkled in the moonlight. I picked it up from 
the ground, and with pleasure discovered that it was a 
broken ring. It had evidently been broken by her strong 
grasp upon the bridle, and dropped in two pieces from her 
finger when she alighted. It was a diamond set in a circle 

of pearls. I pressed it to my lips and ”- 

“Daring boy!” said the mother, half pleased at his 
gallantry, yet half disapproving, knowing as she did the 
dangerous tendency of such emotions when once awakened 
in the bosom of a lowly-born youth towards a high-born 
maiden. She sighed while she smiled; but the smile passed, 
leaving a troubled air upon her calm and sensible face. 
“ You returned the ring, of course, Guilford ? ” 

“ When next I saw her; but she bade me keep it, or 
rather offered me one in its place, as she saw I valued it as 
a memento; but when I told her I would prefer the broken 
one, found ou tbe spot where I had first the happiness of 


16 


RED HAND. 


seeing her, she told me that I might keep it if I would 
wish to.” 

“ And when and where did you meet her, my son ? ” 

“ Only the next week after. I was coming in from the 
channel, and steered my boat closer under the castle than 
usual, for I thought I saw the form of a young girl on the 
white beach. I was not deceived. It was the Lady Kate, 
gathering shells. Upon recognizing me sailing past, she 
beckoned to me to land. I did so, for I wished to return the 
ring. She at once began playfully to chide me for leaving 
the castle so abruptly, without waiting to be thanked by her 
father and brother and her friends for what I had done. I 
told her I did not wish to be thanked at all; but if anyone 
were to thank me, one word from her was a world of thanks. 
She then told me that she had been riding with her brother, 
who was an Oxford student then at home on a visit, ahead 
of her party, when a shot fired by him from his saddle at a 
heron had caused her horse to take fright and run off with 
her. ‘ My brother,’ she said, ‘ followed me, but as I turned 
to the left, while he took to the right, he missed me; and 
but for you I should have been killed, for I could not have 
kept my saddle three minutes longer, as I was fast losing all 
presence of mind. You must come up to the castle and let 
my father know you,’ she added. But I told her that I was 
too lowly to be noticed by nobles, and too proud to be com¬ 
pelled to feel their superiority. At this, she looked at me 
with a stare of beautiful surprise, and, shaking her head, 
she said, archly:— 

“ ‘ I fear you will be too proud to speak to me by and by.’ 

“ ‘ Oh, nol you don’t understand me, lady.’ 

“ ‘ Yes I do, and, what is more, 1 respect you for your 
feeling,’ she added. ‘ I can conceive how one like you must 
feel when you are compelled to endure the superiority of 
others, who may, in reality, be your inferiors. But you will 
not find my father such a nobleman. He knows how to 
appreciate merit; and as for my brother, I heard him say 
that he should find you out to thank you,’ 


RED HAND. 


. n 

“ I then offered to her the ring, which, as I said, she 
permitted me to retain. Seeing that she liked the beautiful 
shells which were scattered on the beach, of which she had a 
basketful, but of indifferent value, I offered to bring her 
others, from the king’s rock beach, where they are to be 
found of such rare colors. I then sailed to the beach and 
landed, to take her basket, for our conversation had taken 
place while I was standing in my boat, about ten yards from 
the land, when a young man, clad as a hunter, followed by a 
couple of dogs, came round a jutting angle of the cliff. He 
was of the middle height, well made, with long flaxen hair 
flowing on his shoulders, a brown moustache, and a fair, 
red-and-white complexion. He was exceedingly handsome; 
but an air of angry surprise which he put on, upon discover¬ 
ing us, increased the disagreeable impression his naturally 
haughty bearing made upon me. 

“ I saw at a glance that he was a noble, and the exclama¬ 
tion of Lady Kate, ‘ My brother! ’ told me who he was 
without further introduction.” 




18 


BED HAND. 


CHAPTER III. 

A IIAUanTY INTERRUPTION. 

‘‘The young nobleman,” resumed Guilford, continuing 
his narrative to his mother, in the green embowered porch 
of the cottage, “ stood for an instant regarding first one and 
then the other of us without a word. He then strode up 
and said haughtily:— 

“ ‘ Who and what are you, that are so familiar as to hold 
converse with this lady, and with thy cap on, fellow ? ’ 
With these words he struck off my cap to my feet, and one 
of his dogs, taking it up, carried it off, tearing it with his 
teeth. 

“ ‘ Wilmot, how can you be so rash ? ’ exclaimed Lady 
Catharine, with a mingled expression of pain for me and 
anger against him. ‘This is the young man, Guilford 
Graham.’ 

“‘And who, pray, is Guilford Graham?’ he repeated, 
sarcastically. 

“ ‘ Have you forgotten the name of the brave youth, who, 
at the risk of his own life, saved mine ? ’ 

“‘How should one remember every hind’s name? So, 
young man, you are the clown that risked your life and 
broke the jaw of the best horse in my father’s stud ? for the 
horse came to the castle with his jaw broken as with a 
sledge-hammer, and we had to shoot him. You have a hand 
like Samson. But you did the thing well, though it cost a 
horse worth a thousand guineas.’ 

“ ‘ Brother, how can you speak of such a trifie, when my 
life was at stake ? ’ 

“ ‘ True, but a discreet person should save the one and not 
destroy the other. There, fellow, are four guineas. I dare 


(' 


19 




RED HAOT). 

swear that thou hast not seen so much gold together before, 
and that it would take a year’s fishing to give to thee in 
hand the same amount.’ 

“ As he spoke, he threw the gold at my feet. I did not 
notice it. I had felt insulted by his manner as well as by 
his words and by this act. I did not deign to glance towards 
him, but I looked in the face of Lady Catharine. Her eyes 
were alight with just resentment. She felt that I had been 
insulted, peasant as I was. 

“ ‘ Wilmot, why do you reward courage in such a strange 
fashion ? One would fancy you had found in this young 
man a foe, rather than one to whom you owe a debt of 
gratitude.’ 

“ ‘ Gratitude to one like him I ’ answered the young Lord 
Vane, with a contemptuous glance at my coarse apparel. 

‘ I have paid him for his service in gold. What fault can he 
find ? By the roodl it would seem, from the familiar manner 
in which I found him holding converse with you, Kate, that 
he presumed more than becometh a hind. Fellow, get into 
thy boat and begone, and think not, because chance hath 
made thee the mean instrument of saving a high-born lady’s 
life, that thou hast gage therefrom for speaking to her.’ 

“ ‘ He did but offer to collect shells for me,’ said the Lady 
Catharine, reproachfully. ‘ I called to him. He is no ways 
to blame.’ 

“ ‘ Then it is you who are to blame, to descend to speak to 
a youth like this, who will boast in the ale-houses among 
his fellows that he has held tryst with the Lady Kate Vane.’ 

“ At these words the eyes of the maiden fiashed fire, but 
instantly filling with tears, she said:— 

“ ‘ You are ungenerous, Rudolph.’ 

“ In the meanwhile,” said Guilford, addressing his mother, 
“ I stood amazed and burning with indignation; and I really 
believe that if he had not been the brother of the fair Lady 
Catharine, I should have struck him to the earth for his 
insulting words to her. But finding that my presence only 
made him more bitter towards her, and fearing a collision, 



20 


RED HAND. 


which might render it necessary for me to strike him in 
self-defence, I got into my boat, but taking the basket with 
me, resolved to redeem my promise to bring it to her on 
some more auspicious day, filled with the shells she so 
greatly admired. I therefore made sail and left them on the 
beach at the foot of the castle; but soon I saw them together 
making their way up the path to the gateway at the round 
tower.” 

“ And then you made an enemy of him forever.” 

“ It may be so. He soon afterwards left for Oxford, 
where he has remained the most of the time until three days 
ago, when he returned.” 

“ Did you receive and take away the gold ? ” 

“ No; I saw him stoop and gather it up after I had sailed 
away. The obligation to me, therefore, on his part, remained 
in full force as at first.” 

“ And hast thou seen the Lady Catharine since then, my 
son ? ” asked his mother, earnestly. 

“ Often and often, dearest mother; for it was not many 
days afterwards that I left for her upon the beach, while from 
the terrace of the castle she looked down and saw me, the 
basket of shells, which I soon beheld her descend and take 
up. I have met her in the forest; I have seen her at the 
castle on gala days; I have encountered her on the snowy 
' beach by moonlight.” 

“ You meet the Lady Catharine by moonlight? You say 
what oversteps the truth, I fear.” 

“ Nay, mother, we have often met, and walked and dis¬ 
coursed together upon the glorious works of nature, the 
majesty of the sea, the mystery of the stars, the delights of 
friendship, the bliss of heaven, and upon everything good 
and beautiful. Ah, mother, it has been to me as if for the 
three years past I had been permitted to have companion¬ 
ship with an angel of intelligence and love. Oh, how she 
has elevated my soul, expanded my mind, enlarged my views, 
purified the gross in me, and cultivated the virtues which 
knew not how to grow right. If I am superior to what I 


Hed iiakd. 


21 


then was, if I am called by the villagers wiser and better 
than others, it is to her sweet teachings in those stolen 
hours which we have consecrated together to friendship.” 

“ Guilford, you fill me with amazement. I tremble at 
what I hear you utter. Can all this be so ? Yes, it must 
be. You could not deceive me; and besides, I have now in 
my mind numerous little circumstances which the revelation 
on your part gives me a full explanation of. How wonderful 
it all is I You, my son of an humble fisherman, the chosen 
friend and confidant of a noble and high-born maiden, the 
daughter of a lord I It is difficult to believe it. But it is 
said woman’s heart, when it chooses, looks not to title, nor 
rank, nor dress, but for a kindred heart; and perhaps that, 
though one is born in the castle and the other at the foot of 
the castle, the same spirit may be animating your bosoms. 
But the Lady Kate is young; she has seen but little of the 
world. She is hardly conscious of the impassable gulf that 
lies between you and her own high station. The romance, 
sweet and pleasant as it has been to you, must be broken. 
Her hand will be asked by some proud noble, and she will 
give it to him, and then she will be ashamed that she has 
been so foolish as to descend to your level. Trust me, my 
dear boy, this wild dream must be broken. Let me advise 
you to see her no more. Better for your own feelings that 
you withdraw now from an intimacy that cannot be perpetual, 
which is so extraordinary, than wait to be cast off with 
infamy. She is now nineteen, and what pleased her at 
fifteen may disgust her now.” 

‘‘ You do not know her, my dear mother,” answered the 
young man, his face lighting up with generous warmth in 
defence of Lady Kate. “ She feels no differently towards 
me now than at all other times. She will never give her 
hand to any noble of them all.” 

“ This is a bold speech. Wouldst thou bind her to thyself, 
Guilford ? If, in the innocence and frankness of her nature, 
she has given her regards to the humble youth to whom she 
feels she owes her life, are you so ungenerous as to take 


/ : 


22 


RED HAND. 


advantage of her gratitude, which, it would seem, is ready 
to give herself with it, in order that you may have the selfish 
pleasure of feeling that you are loved by a high-born 
maiden ? ” 

“ Mother, you do me injustice. You do not understand 
cither me or the Lady Catharine. I have bound her by no 
pledge. I have dared to exact no promises from her. I 
have not thought of any happiness or consummation of our 
pure friendship, beyond the sweet bliss of the present hour 
—the joy of her sweet presence.” 

“ You are then both rash and imprudent. You are 
wasting a generous heart upon one who can never be more 
to you than she now is, and she is wasting upon you atfections 
which can never find their fruition; for the natural tendency 
of such attachments as it appears exist between you and 
Lady Catharine, is a union by marriage, and to this result 
the opposite ranks you occupy in society must forever put a 
bar. You, therefore, are doing her irreparable injury, and 
endangering the wreck of her whole life’s happiness, by 
encouraging by your continued presence in her society, a 
passion which can only end in sorrow, tears and wretched¬ 
ness to you both.” 

“ I see, I see, dear mother. Your words have opened my 
eyes. I behold my position as you behold it, and am conscious 
that it is a false one. Mother, I will see her no more—no 
more—no morel ” 


RED ; A ^D. 


23 


CHAPTER IV. 

A mother’s counsel. 

The young fisherman ventured the last word in a tone of 
sadness, and with his head bowed down upon his mother’s 
hand, upon which hot tears dropped, one after another, like 
rain. 

“Thou hast spoken well; thou hast spoken like a man. 
Heaven give thee strength toabide by thy words,” she said 
impressively. 

“ Ho morel ” he repeated, in a tone of unutterable anguish. 
“ I see that I shall destroy her hopes, her happiness, her 
future, if I suffer this mad dream of bliss to go on. But it 
will rend my heart.” 

“Hay, be strong in a sense of rectitude and manly con¬ 
sciousness of acting right. Thou wilt not hesitate to sacrifice 
thyself for her, if thou lovest her.” 

“ Love her! ” 

“ Then reflect that it is for her whom you love you make 
this sacrifice of never beholding her more. As it is, she can 
never marry in her own rank, as becomes her; for thou hast 
her heart, for which, nevertheless, thou canst give her no 
return.” 

“Ho return? True, true. I can give her only my heart 
again. I have no rank, no castles, no place at court, no 
historic name, no wealth, no power to return to her. Mother, 
you are wiser than I, far wiser. The dream is past; I will 
see her but once more.” 

“ Hay, not that once.” 

“ Can I steal away from her, dear mother? Shall I cease 
my interviews with her without a word of explanation. Shall 
1 add to our separation the barb of suspicion that 1 have 


24 


BED HAND. 


done aught that makes me ashamed to see her, or that she 
has given me aught of offence ? Nay, it is becoming that 
we meet once more—to part forever.” 

“ Perhaps you arc right, my son. I will trust to your 
good sense that this interview be so conducted as to release 
you both from any indiscreet pledges of fidelity into which 
you may both have unadvisedly fallen. When will you have 
this interview ? ” 

“ This very night.” 

“ The sooner the better for you both. Now, my boy, 
explain to me what you began to do when you sat down 
here—how your boat came so dreadfully wrecked,” 

“ I deserved it, I see, since we have had this talk together, 
I will explain in a few words. You know, perhaps, that 
young Lord Kudolph has returned to the castle within a few 
days ? ” 

“ I heard so from your Cousin Anne.” 

“Anne?—yes; she knows everything that goes on at 
Castle Vane.” 

“ Anne speaks of the Lady Catharine in the warmest 
praise.” 

“ How can any one do otherwise ? All love her who 
approach her; and alas, all may approach hereafter but me. 
I alone am to be exiled from her sweet presence. But hear 
what I have to say touching the injury done to my boat. 
While I was listlessly rocking on the swell, waiting for the 
fish to take the hook, and gazing upon the towers of the 
castle, and thinking of Lady Catharine, I fell asleep and 
dreamed. I dreamed that I had won her hand, and that I 
led her up to the high altar in Westminster Abbey, where a 
mitred archbishop united us in holy marriage. I recollect 
that the king was present, and all his nobles, and ”- 

“ The king I ” exclaimed his mother, with surprise; “ you 
know we have no king—the judges have put him to death.” 

“ I know it, mother; but in my dream I saw the king, or a 
king, and he seemed to smile on me; and I thought I was 
clad in the robes of an earl, and wore an earl’s coronet.^ 


.jj HAKD. 


25 


“ These dream are nothing, my son.” 

“ But this made a deep impression upon me when I awoke; 
but I must confess my heart sank within me when my open¬ 
ing eyes fell only upon my coarse fishing clothes and poor 
fishing boat, with a few lines, and hooks, and tubs, that 
constituted all my earthly wealth.” 

“ A fit gift to bestow upon a noble bride, Guilford,” said 
his mother, in a slightly ironical tone, quite unusual to her. 
“ Take a lesson from your dream, and let your common 
sense see that you are never lij^ely to exchange your poor 
estate as a fisherman for the regal splendor you beheld in 
Westminster Hall.” 

“You are right, mother. I will try and impress the lesson 
upon my heart. It was past noon when I awoke, and I 
found that the fiood tide had swung my vessel close in under 
the land, and that Castle Vane was towering high in the air 
above my head. As the day was still cloudless and unfit 
for fishing, I landed and roamed along the beach, and 
endeavored to detect traces of the small footstep which had 
the evening before wandered there by my side. I also gath¬ 
ered every pretty shell that met my eye for the grotto which 
Lady Catharine was making in the garden of the castle. In 
this pleasurable occupation the afternoon wore away, and at 
length I returned to my boat. But imagine my joy when I 
beheld the Lady Catharine seated in it, engaged in sketching 
the castle and rock. 

“ ‘ I saw your boat, and took the liberty, Guilford,’ she 
said, smiling, in that captivating way which almost made me 
lose my senses. ‘ I at 'first stood on the large stone half 
surrounded by the water there, but the tide coming in, I 
was afraid I should be caught by it, and so I exchanged it 
for the boat. I see you have some beautiful shells.’ 

“ ‘ Yes, Lady Kate,’ I answered, with that trembling of 
the voice without which 1 never could speak to her. ‘ I 
have some here we have never seen. But you do not get a 
good view of the castle so nearly under it. Let me push out 
further, so that you can embrace the whole at one view.’ 


20 


RED HAND. 


“ She thanked me, and getting into the boat, I pushed 
from the beach, and hoisting the sail, ran out a hundred 
fathoms, and there brought my little vessel to, and sat down 
and watched her as with taste and skill she transferred the 
outlines of her father’s castle to a leaf of the portfolio before 
her. While she drew we conversed, I know not about what; 
but the time flew by unmarked. She had finished her sketch, 
and was admiring its faithfulness, when a flaw of wind 
suddenly struck us from the gap in the cliff, and blew so 
hard that I was compelled to run before it for ten or twelve 
minutes. But after getting an oflSng of half a league, it 
decreased so much in strength that I was able to lay up to 
it, and prepared to return to the foot of the castle rock. But 
Lady Kate, seeing the danger was passed, and delighted at 
finding herself so far out in the channel, entreated me not to 
return immediately, but sail further out and let her try and 
catch a fish or two with me. To this I consented, and 
reaching the fishing ground, I was soon engaged in teaching 
her how to catch the fish, which now began to take the hook 
freely. While we were thus engaged, my whole thoughts 
full of the happy consciousness of her presence, we were 
suddenly startled by a loud shout. Looking up, I beheld a 
green, gilded yacht, of about twenty tons burthen, standing 
towards us at a rapid rate hauled close on the wind. At her 
helm I recognized the haughty figure of Lord Rudolph, 
whose face was livid with fierce passion. There were half a 
dozen other persons on board, four of whom were the crew. 
He steered straight for me, and I saw that his intention was 
to sink me. He called me by all manner of opprobrious 
epithets as he came near, and I saw that he was bent on 
equally destroying both Lady Catharine and myself. My 
sails were brailed up, and I had no time to get out of the 
way; but seeing he was aiming to strike me amidships, I 
succeeded with an oar in turning the bow of my boat so as to 
receive the shock there. The moment of collision two or 
three of the crew, by his previous order, sprang on board, 
and taking the Lady Catharine up, regained the yacht with 


RED HAND. 


27 


her. The shock drove the bow of my boat in, and she began 
to fill. The yacht, recoiling from the contact, glided past 
across the bows, and as Lord Vane saw me making efforts 
to keep my boat from going down, he laughed like a fiend, 
and then deliberately aiming a shot gun at me, discharged 
it. I should have been killed by the ball if I had not thrown 
myself upon my face. 

“ The next moment the yacht was far to leeward, and I 
was left alone with my sinking boat. What a moment of 
shame, disappointment and bitterness was that to me I 
What an hour of happiness had been suddenly interrupted! 
I now turned my whole attention to saving my boat and my 
life. But my ears were rended by the cries of Lady Kate to 
her brother, not to let me perish. But I could hear his 
scornful laugh only in reply. 

“ By great exertions, my dear mother, I reached the cove 
as you saw; but if I had been half a mile further out, I 
should certainly have been lost. Now, mother, you know 
all. I have unfolded to you the secret of my life. You are 
my only confidant. Perhaps I have done wrong in encourag¬ 
ing this sweet friendship on the part of Lady Kate. But 
should I dash the cup of bliss to the ground ? I was not 
wise enough to know that it was charged with sorrow to us 
both. I can now look on all with your eyes. I see that I 
have been in the wrong, and that I have been inflicting a 
positive injury upon her whom I would die to serve. I see 
it—I see it all. I cannot so much blame Lord Vane for 
wishing to break off a friendship that was laden with so 
much future evil.” 

“lam so glad to see you take this view of it, Guilford. It 
shows me that you are still as good and generous and just 
as I have always believed you to be. No doubt that Lady 
Catharine loves you. But do you think—now hear me put 
the question with calmness—do you think she would listen 
to you with anything less than with surprise and scorn, if 
you proposed seriously for her hand ? ” 

Guilford shook his head, but made no reply. 


hed hand. 




“I fear that such a proposal from you would open her 
eyes, which seem to be so strangely blinded, and lead her to 
see the true position in which you stand to each other. It 
would-break the spell effectually. Doubtless she, as well as 
yourself, has never asked of her heart and judgment where 
all this would end.” 

“ I will see her once more, and then we part forever, 

unless”- Here a certain proud light shone in his fine 

eyes, and he rose to his feet. 

“ Unless what, Guilford? ” asked his mother, with anxiety, 
fearing all his resolutions were to be turned into thin air. 

“ Unless I can render myself worthy of her, mother.” 

“ Worthy of her I Indeed, so far as truth and honor and 
manly comeliness are concerned, you are worthy of the love 
of any maiden, methinks, Guilford; but these count nought 
in the sum of qualifications which he who would wed a lord’s 
daughter must bring to his aid.” 

“ I may yet make myself worthy of her, mother. In the 
books of history which she has loaned me, and which we 
have read together, are accounts of lowly-born youths having 
risen to thrones, and to wed kings’ daughters. Nothing is 
impossible to love and ambition I ” 

“ That was in the days of Ilomaunt, long ago, my boy. 
Such things do not happen now.” 

“ No one knows. What is enacting now ? Who is Presi¬ 
dent of England, and who sits in the seat of the long line 
of descended kings ? Is it not Oliver Cromwell, who rose 
from the ranks of the people? Even Lord Rudolph Yane 
must lift his cap to this man of humble origin.” 

“ True, my son, the people have the power.” 

“ Yes, and the nobles hold their castles and their coronets 
at the will of the Lord Protector. Because I am a fisherman 
now, shall I of necessity always be one? Thanks to the 
teachings of the Lady Catharine, I have knowledge and 
learning, and know how to hold such place as my good 
fortune may perchance elevate me to. From this day I doff 
the fisher’s jacket, and go and offer my services to the 


RED HAND. 


29 


admiral of the fleet, now in the Thames and preparing to 
sail against the Dutch. There all grades are open to talent 
and aspiration; and with the star of Lady Kate’s love shining 
ever above the horizon of my future, I shall yet win some 
place worthy of her.” 

“ Ah, my son, you do not reflect that a successful officer 
under Cromwell’s power would be an unsuccessful wooer for 
the hand of a daughter of so proud and royal a noble as 
Lord Yane. Dost thou forget how these nobles hate the 
Protector ? ” 

“ True, true, I should only defeat my aim,” he answered, 
gloomily, as the sunshine of hope faded away into the 
shadows of his darkening destiny. “ And what is more true, 
I am in heart a king’s subject. I have been taught by you 
and my father to honor the king, and to look upon Crom¬ 
well as a usurper. Nothing but the hope—now dashed to 
the ground—of winning Lady Kate through honors gained 
under the Protector’s flag, would have suggested to me the 
idea of offering myself to him. My heart is with the exiled 
and hunted young King Charles; but to share his fallen for¬ 
tunes I should be no nearer my ambitious hopes. Mother, 
advise me; I know not what to do. I can never forget Lady 
Catharine. I must love her while life endures; and while I 
live, it must be with the faint, far-off hope that kind fate 
will one day smile upon my love, and with the sunshine of 
joy dissipate all the clouds that now hang around me.” 

‘‘ My advice is, my boy, to remain where you are, and try 
and forget the Lady Catharine, as much so as if she were 
dead and buried.” 

“ Be it so; I will try,” answered Guilford, in tones scarcely 
audible to his mother’s ears. He then suffered her to embrace 
him, to breathe a word or two of consolation into his heavy 
heart, and then entered the house. 

It was already twilight, for the sun had gone down behind 
the blue Hampshire hills while they sat in the green porch, 
holding the conversation we have above recorded. In a few 
minutes he came forth and was passing out of the gate. 


30 


RED HAND. 


“Leave no room, Guilford, for a second interview,” whis¬ 
pered his mother, impressively. 

“ It shall be the last,” he answered, with deep emotion 
modulating the sounds of his voice. 

At the gate he met a fair young giri of eighteen, clad in a 
neat chintz gown, and coarse but becoming straw hat. 

“ Good-evening, Cousin Anne,” he said, as he passed her. 

“ Good-evening, Guilford,” she responded. 

“ Aunt, what makes Guilford so sad ? ” she asked, lookina- 
after him. 

“He has a heavy sorrow at heart, child,” answered the 
mother, in a tone of sympathy. “ Heaven hold him stront^ 
under it.” ° 


RED HAND. 


31 


CHAPTER Y. 

COUSIN ANNE GREY.—A SURPRISE. 

The maiden who betrayed this interest in the young man 
was Anne Grey, his cousin, and the adopted child of her 
aunt, his mother. She was a beautiful girl of eighteen, 
with dark brows and eyes, and handsome cheeks and lips, 
and a neat figure, buoyant with the elasticity of health. She 
had daily employment at the castle by Lady Ya'ne, who gave 
occupation to several maidens of humble degree in the art of 
embroidery, a pursuit then much in vogue with the high-born 
dames of England. 

Every morning for two years past, Anne had gone to the 
castle to pass the day in the large hall or working-room, 
where the lady of the castle, seated in the midst of her half¬ 
score of maidens, either taught them difficult figures in 
pattern by her own example, or passed from one to the 
other giving directions. 

“ Have you completed that battle-piece of Hastings’s field 
yet? ” asked dame Graham of Anne, as the latter seated 
herself by the frugal supper prepared for her and Guilford, 
but which the latter had left untouched. 

“ Not yet, aunt; we expect to complete it by June. We 
have been already twenty-one months upon it. We had to 
wait three weeks for the arrival of the young lord before 
we could finish his figure.” 

“ What, does my young lord figure in the tapestry ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, as one of the king’s youthful knights. He has 
taken a good many sittings, and the portrait is to the life; 
but Lady Yane draws and works in the features herself, 
while we only work the surtout and the armor,” 

“ What think you of my young lord ? ” 


82 


RED HAND. 


“ Something bold and free, methinks.’^ 

‘‘ So I fancied, if he be like other nobles of his degree. I 
hope, child, he hath not noticed thee.” 

“ I like not his looks at all, aunt. He hath twice spoken to 
me in a manner that has made my cheeks burn. I would 
gladly find some excuse not to go up to the castle until he 
shall be gone back to London.” 

‘‘ Tell not thy cousin Guilford of this.” 

“ Nay, he would care little. He careth not for me,” she 
answered, changing color. 

Ah, and is it this way blows the wind, my child ? ” 

“ Which way, aunt? ” 

“ I see thou lovest Guilford more than thou shouldst as a 
relative.” 

“ I did not say so, aunt. Yet who can help liking him. ? 
Does not every one like him? Nay, I have heard the fair 
Lady Catharine speak of him to me with passing commen¬ 
dation. But Guilford never thinks of me or any other 
maiden.” 

“ x\nd how like you Lady Catharine? ” 

“ She is fair and good as an angel. We all love her. She 
is nothing like Lord Rudolph, her brother; and methinks he 
is something hoarse towards her betimes, as becometh not a 
brother.” 

“ So I hear.” 

“ And what aileth Guilford to-night? ” 

“ He is ill at ease. I warrant me he’ll be better and wiser 
to-morrow. But here comes in some neighbor. See who it 
is.” 

Anne rose up, and advancing to the door started back with 
a cry of surprise as she beheld two of Cromwell’s soldiers, 
armed with harquebus and broad-sword, and wearing the 
well-known badge of the parliamentary army. Instantly 
dame Graham, with that instinctive sense of propriety and 
self-possession which never forsook her, though she trem¬ 
bled in her inmost soul at beholding the shadows of the two 
men crossing her threshold, advanced and said civilly;^ 


RED HAND. 


“Enter, friends, and refresh yourselves. We were just 
at supper; if you will take seats, you shall cheerfully have 
whatever our poor larder can furnish.” 

The soldiers sat down without ceremony, as if they felt 
perfectly at home and were accustomed to the civility which 
they met with. One of them was^a tall, thin, cadaverous 
man, with dark, angular brows, sallow cheeks, and straight, 
black hair for a beard, while that upon his"head was cropped 
short like that of a modern convict. He was armed in a 
formidable manner, and was altogether a formidable-looking 
person—a sort of cross between a Puritan saint and a robber 
of the Rhine. Ilis comrade was shorter by a head, girded 
full twenty inches more by the waist, had a bald, bullet 
bead, and no beard. His eyes were small and twinkling and 
the corners of his mouth which naturally were inclined to 
turn laughingly upwards, were drawn down in a sanctimo¬ 
nious curve, that each moment required his attention to keep 
so. The names of these two worthies were respectively 
“Strait-gate” and “ Broad-way.” The first five minutes 
Strait-gate occupied in saying a long grace, to which Broad¬ 
way responded an unctuous amen. They then fell to work 
upon the fish and ashes-cakes before them; and having taken 
oC the edge of their appetite, they began to use their eyes 
now in scanning the room, then the face and dress of dame 
Graham, and lastly, but more lingeringly, the pretty counte¬ 
nance of Anne Grey, who sat aloof in the window, trying to 
withdraw as much from close observation as she could. 

“ So, dame, thou seemest to subsist by the travail of 
fishing ? Yerily, it is a good trade, and thou shouldst thrive. 
This comely maiden is thy daughter, I do peradventure.” 

This was spoken by Strait-gate. 

“ My niece, your worship.” 

“ Come hither, maid, and let me see if thou art well- 
favored,” said Broad-way. “ They do say that much eating 
of fish doth improve the complexion.” 

But Anne, as soon as she saw that she was particularly 
noticed, quickly tripped out of the cottage. 3 


34 


RED HAND. 


“Verily and yea, the maiden hath fled. Truly, she hath 
no need to fear the soldiers of the Lord and of Gideon. We 
war against kings, and not against women.” 

“ And how fares my Lord Cromwell, gentlemen ? ” 

“ Marry come up I how should he but do well who is next 
to King David in power, and Solomon in wisdom ? Never¬ 
theless, thou showest thy reverence for him, good dame, by 
asking. Where is thy husband ? ” 

“ Dead, these seven years, sir.” 

“Hast thou no man about ?” asked Broad-way, cocking 
his half-shut eye at the oars and sails that stood in the corner. 

“ I have a son, a young man of four-and-twenty.” 

“ Where is he, dame ? ” 

“ He has gone forth on some affair of his own.” 

“ Very well; when he comes back we shall doubtless see 
him—for, by your leave, we will quarter with you a few 
days.” 

“ Such poor comforts as my humble roof affords are at 
your service,” answered the dame, thankful that there were 
but two of them when there might have been more. 

After the men had well eaten, and quaffed strong waters 
from well-filled flasks which they carried at their belts, they 
walked forth, saying they would ere long be back to stay for 
the night. They had not been five minutes departed, when 
a man entered with the familiar air of a village gossip. He 
was dressed in a patched and torn doublet, hose down at the 
leg, a coarse tunic, and slouched hat. Moreover, his fiery- 
red nose showed that he was much given to ale-house 
potations. 

“ Ah, dame, how be it all wi’ ye ? IIow is Master Guil¬ 
ford ? Strange news come to town. Stirring times these— 
stirring, piping-hot times I Thank the Lord I was born in 
these stirring times! ” 

With this, the new-comer rubbed his palms together, and 
spoke with great volubility, like a man over-earnest to be the 
first to turn the faucet of a barrel of news. 

“ Why, what hath happened. Master Digby ? ” 


RED HAND. 


35 


“ Then you’ve not heard it ? Good I you’ll soon know, for 
they’ll be upon you. Why, a whole company o’ parliamen¬ 
tary soldiers marched down into the port just at sunset, and 
have stacked their arms at the Whale and Gudgeon. There 
they are, drinking and singing psalms, and looking as war¬ 
like as Gog and Magog. Oh, it’s terrible t® see their long 
broadswords and open-mouth harquebuses, at the end of 
every one of which hangs a true man’s life I ” 

u -vye’ve had two of them here already,” said the dame. 

‘‘ What I you don’t say they have been here ? ” 

“There is where they have eaten but ten minutes agone. 
They say they are going to quarter here.” 

“ Dear, bless us, what stirring times! But did they tell 
you what they came here for ? I warrant me I have a piece 
of news for you yet.” 

“We did not ask them, and I did not care to be too 
inquisitive.” 

“ Just like you. Weil, I know. Listen, Miss Anne. The 
king’s son. Prince Charles, has made a break from some 
place where they had him penned in, away off in Scot’s 
country, a-north; and the Protector’s got certain news he’s 
trying to fly across the seas. So, you' understand, he has 
sent vessels to'every port where he could, to keep watch 
and to examine every boat that puts off; and here, on the 
south of England, he has sent troops to guard the coast, 
and especially every place where there are fishing boats. So 
at this moment there is not a chance for the prince to get 
out of England without being seen and taken. All along 
the coast Cromwell’s soldiers are quartered, and are to keep 
strict watch. All this I learned from one of the troop who 
used to be an old crony of mine when the old king was 
alive.” 

“Poor Prince Charles!” sighed the fisherman’s widow; 
“ he is, I fear, destined to fall into the hands of his 
enemies.” 

“ We must speak low when we mention his name,” 
answered Digby. “ But good-night. I must go, for I’ve 


RED HAND. 


got to tell the news to a good many. Stirring times—stir¬ 
ring times 1 Good-night, fair Miss Anncl” 

With these words, the village news-bearer hastened from 
the cottage. 

'• I do really hope they will have their labor for their 
pains,” said Anne. “ Poor Prince Charles has been hunted 
till he has no place left to hide his head.” 

“ It is to be hoped he may escape.” 

“ Aunt, there is some one looking iu upon us at the back 
window I ” suddenly exclaimed Anne. 

The dame turned her head, and as she did so the window 
was raised, and a man stepped into the room. His appear¬ 
ance struck them with surprise and curiosity. He wore a 
plain peasant’s dress, soiled and travel-worn, an old fur cap, 
that covered his eyes and nearly concealed his features, 
which were pale and well-shaped. There was an air of 
superiority about him that led the dame to suspect that he 
was some one of the nobles in disguise, who were lurking 
about England in considerable numbers with prices set upon 
their heads. He seemed ready to sink with fatigue, as, 
supporting himself on the edge of the table, he said faintly:— 

“You are a woman—you are compassionate—give me a 
few hours’ shelter. I am pursued, and throw myself on 
your mercy 1 ” 

“ Come, follow me,” quietly said the dame, speaking with 
decision and profnptness. “Anne, place that food in his 
hands.” 

A plate of provisions from the table was handed to him 
by the maiden, and he followed dame Graham out of the 
room like one accustomed to ask and find shelter in this 
manner. There was a ladder in the adjoining apartment 
which led to a loft. 

“ Ascend this and you will find a bed and security. Make 
no noise. As soon as my son comes we will seek a more 
secure place of shelter. There are two of the parliamentary 
soldiers quartered in the house, but they shall not suspect 
your presence. Who you are I ask not; I only wish that it 


HED HAND. 

Were the prince, save that I should be grieved to see any 
prince so hardly driven by his foes.” 

He pressed her hand gratefully, and ascended the ladder, 
which, at her direction, he drew up after him. He then 
closed the opening, so that no sign of the trap was apparent 
from below. She then returned to Anne, whom she im¬ 
pressed with the importance of keeping the secret of the 
presence of the fugitive from every one. 

“ Have you any idea who it is, aunt ? ” 

“ I have my guess. It is either the prince himself or one 
of his friends.” \ 

“ Oh, that it were the prince, and we could get him safe 
across the channel I ” exclaimed the lovely girl, with warmth. 

“ That is sooner said than executed. I sincerely pray that 
it may not be Prince Charles, for I do not see how we could 
protect him. These soldiers will doubtless pry into every 
nook and corner of the house. But Guilford will soon be in, 
and then I will consult with him.” 


) 


38 


tlED hand. 


CHAPTER VI. 

A CONCEALED GUEST. 

The good dame then went to work to prepare some drink 
of ale and French brandy, which latter article the fishermen 
on the south coast, from their nearness to France, had 
always cheaply and in ample quantities in their household. 
Having made the potation hot, and seasoned it well with 
spices, she sent Anne with it to give it to their concealed 
guest, while she herself remained to watch the entrance to 
the cottage, that no one might come in unobserved. Anne, 
on entering the back apartment of the hut, carefully locked 
and bolted the door between, and then drawing a rough table 
beneath the trap, she got upon it and knocked lightly with 
the end of a broom upon the ceiling above her head. 

“ Sir cavalier,” she said, softly. 

“ What, maiden ? ” asked the voice of the concealed fugi¬ 
tive, speaking through a crevice in the floor. 

“ Open, and take this warm negus which my aunt hath 
prepared for thee. We know you must suffer from thirst 
and fatigue, for we have heard of the great hardships the 
friends of Prince Charles have gone through to keep from 
being observed.” 

The trap was carefully lifted, and the arm of the wanderer 
was thrust down for the flagon which the maiden reached up 
to him. As he took it he tapped her hand with his fingers, 
in token of his gratitude, and said, in a voice which had 
become habitually subilued to the lowest undertone:— 

“Thanks and blessings upon thee and thy good aunt, 
maiden. Heaven surely directed me hither. Are you confi¬ 
dent that I can be concealed here ? ” 

“ At least till Cousin Guilford can find some other place.” 


llED HAND. 


39 


“ And who is thy Cousin Guilford ? ” 

“ The son of my aunt; and though but a fisherman’s son, 
and himself a fisherman, he is a true friend to the prince, 
and prays every night for his safety, as well as do I and 
my aunt.” 

“ Thanks, thanks, maiden! This beverage will revive me, 
and make me forget my day’s fatigues.” 

“ Quick, sir cavalier—shut the trap down; I hear voices.” 

The stranger immediately closed the trap, and leaping to 
the floor from the table, the maiden removed it against the 
wall, and unbolting the door returned to the front room. 
Voices of men in loud talk were still heard outside. 

“ Didst give it to him ? ” asked her aunt. 

“Yes, aunt; and he was so grateful and so civil spoken; 
and his hand, as he reached it down, was as fair as a born 
lady’s.” 

“ Without doubt; these court cavaliers do nought of work, 
being rich, but aid the king with their heads in council. 
How fortunate it was he did not come in when the soldiers 
were here! ” 

“ Perhaps he was watching outside the window till they 
were away.” 

“ But it was bold in him to come in when they had so 
lately left.” 

“ Poor gentleman, aunt! Perhaps he had no other chance 
for safety. I have heard a story of a hunted deer, after 
being pressed from every covert, at length fly for shelter 
beneath the horse of the hunter. But here come the men.” 

“ Now, Anne, let not our looks or manner or words betray 
to these soldiers that we have a secret to keep.” 

While the good woman was giving this piece of caution to 
her niece, the two parliamentary troopers came in, making 
noise enough with their heavy boots and jingling swords lor 
half a score of modern dragoons. 

“ Well, mistress, we have been taking a survey of thy 
premises around, walking about thereof, as the Israelites 
circumvented the walls of Jericho; but, verily, not seven 


40 


RED HAND. 


times, for we had no desire that thy walls should fall !^own, 
considering that we look for them to give us shelter for 
to-night.. Here, maiden, take the sword of the Lord and 
of Gideon.” 

With this Broad-way, who had seated his unwieldy form 
upon a bench by the table, unbuckled his huge sword and 
handed it to Anne, who took it, though it required no little 
strength to lift it, with its iron scabbard, and hung it upon 
a wooden peg near the window. 

“And take thou this fiery sword, lass, and put it on 
yonder beckets,” said Strait-gate, with a solemn, nasal drawl. 
“PhuffI verily, brother Broad-way, I smell the savor of 
strong waters, spiced with fragrance as the incense of 
Aaron, that fiowed down his garment skirts unto.” 

“ Yes, the fiavor thereof ascendeth to my nostrils like the 
odors of the lily of the valley of many colors. Dame, 
whence ariseth this delectable odor?” asked Broad-way, 
snuffing the air of the room about him like a bull of Bashan; 
while Strait-gate, erect and thin-visaged, rolled his eyes on 
all sides to discover whence came this fragrance which had 
so greatly captivated their senses. 

“ It is but the fumes of a negus which I have been making. 
My son will be in soon, and as the night is something chilly, 
and as he has gone out without his supper, I would give him 
some refreshment when he comes in.” 

“ Verily, thou art a mother in Israel,” answered Broad¬ 
way. “ Suppose thou regardest me as thy son in Jacob and 
thy posterity in Abraham, and give me of the negus even 
verily, as Jacob gave to Esau of the pottage when he was 
a-hungry.” 

Dame Graham rose at once, and taking from a small cup¬ 
board an earthen mug, which held about a quart, she poured 
from it into two cups all that she had reserved for Guilford 
of what she had made for the concealed guest. 

The two soldiers had no sooner inhaled and tasted the 
drink, than they manifested their approbation of her skill 
in concocting agreeable potations. 


ilED HAND. 


41 


Verily,” said Strait-gate, “ this is richer than the wines 
of Judea and the dew of the little hills of Hermon.” 

“ Yea, verily, it is the dew of Lebanon,” answered Broad¬ 
way, with unction. 

“ The good dame must fill up the quart measure once 
more; for verily, with such strength as this giveth to the 
arm of a servant of the Lord, we shall overthrow our enemies 
and discomfit themi ” 

“Verily, brother Strait-gate, verily, till not a dry bone 
standeth in the valley of Ajalon. Come hither, maiden, for 
thou art fair and comely to look upon; come hither, and sit 
upon my knee, that I may discourse to thee touching the 
wiles of the devil and the temptations of this world of 
vanities.” 

“ Nay, brother, the maiden will do better to sit where she 
is; for thou shouldst not put thyself in the way of evil, 
seeking to save others from perdition.” 

“ Anne,” said the good dame, “ come hither and take this 
pail and go to the spring and fill it with water, that I may 
make more negus for these sons of Jacob.” 

Anne very willingly complied, and was not a little gratified 
when her aunt whispered to her as she gave her the bucket, 
“ Kemain without until thy cousin returns. These men will 
be rude to thee in their cups. There is water enough in the 
house without that thou art sent for.” 

“ But they will be rude to thee.” 

“ No, I fear them not, child. Keep thou away from them 
all thou canst.” 

“ Marry come up, maiden I ” said Broad-way, as she passed 
him; “ stay and let me give thee a holy kiss.” 

“Yes, a kiss of peace, verily, maidenl ” chimed in Strait- 
gate, with a hypocritical twang through his nose. “Dost 
thou not remember the Scripture records that Isaac kissed 
Rebecca? Come hither, and let us kiss thee and talk to 
thee of the vanity of youth and the perils of comeliness.” 

But Anne, blushing and terrified, bounded past the pious 
covenanters and gained the outside of the door. But she 


42 


RED HAND. 


fled from the arms of the men of war to fall into the arms of 
a fine-looking youth of her own station, who was in the act 
of knocking for admission as she opened the door. 

“ Why, EobinI ” she exclaimed, as she withdrew her form 
from his arms, which had inclosed her almost of necessity, so 
completely she came into them. 

“ And you, Anne I Whither with such haste ? Oh, I see, 
you have the bucket. Let me fetch for thee.” 

“Nay, speak low, and come right away from the door. 
If you must talk, talk at the spring. There are two of those 
dreadful troopers in the house.” 

“ What, Cromwell’s brigands? ” repeated the young fel¬ 
low, in tones that rang like a Damascus blade. 

“ Hush I ” she cried, pressing her small hand against his 
mouth to stop his words. “ If you are overheard you are 
lost. Come with me, quickly, and I will tell you all that 
has happened.” 

lie took the pail from her, and followed her light step 
across a stile and into a remote corner of a paddock, where, 
beneath a clump of alders, bubbled a sparkling spring, with 
an abundance of water, which, overrunning, sought its way 
in a brooklet to the sea, five hundred yards off. 

“You seem disturbed, Anne; have these troopers been 
insolent ? ” demanded the young man, who was plainly of a 
fiery temper, and had a profound regard for the maiden. 

“When did you ever hear of these soldiers being beneath 
a roof that they were not insolent? Beshrew mel they 
would have kissed me if I would have suffered it of their 
ugly, great hairy mouths I ” 

“ I will kill them both I ” 

“ Nay, Eobin, that would be to the death of three men— 
for assuredly thou wouldst be the third. They did not kiss 
me, however, for I ran away.” 

“ The hounds I to presume to think of what I hardly dare 
dream of—pressing thy sweet lips I ” 

“ Nay, Eobin, don’t talk of love now. You may stay here 
and keep me company till Guilford comes home, if you wish.” 


‘RET) HAND. 


4;^ 


“ Ah, Anne, you are ever so cruel to me. Why do I woo 
and sue, and woo in vain?” said the j^ouug man, seating 
himself by her side on the stone bench that half encircled 
the spring. “ Do you compel me to sigh for you, and love 
you, and live only with your thought, while you treat me so 
disdainfully ? ” 

“ I love you, Kobin, but I do not love you yet well enough 
to be your wife. If I ever marry any one but — it shall 
be you.” 

“But who? Whose name fills the space that you only 
breathed ? ” 

“ Do you not guess ? ” asked the ingenuous girl. 

“ I can think of no one but Guilford.” 

“ You are right. It is Guilford who alone keeps me from 
loving you as you ought to be loved. I have nothing against 
you; I am grateful for selecting me out of all the maidens of 
the hamlet; but I do love Guilford.” 

“ Only as a cousin ? ” 

“ I wish it were only as a cousin. I fear I love him with 
all my heart.” 

“Happy Guilford I He is my best friend—he destroys 
my happiness. But why do I ask the question ? Who can 
help loving thee, Anne, that knows thee ? ” 

“ Frankly then, I fear he loves me only as a cousiu, and 
has no suspicion of my attachment for him. That makes 
me wretched. I fear his heart is pre-engaged.” 

“ Would that it were.” 

“ It would then break the dream of my life, and I should 
perhaps awake, Kobin, to the realities of thy love. You see 
I am frank and open-hearted with you. Your long attach¬ 
ment for me demands frankness and the absence of all 
mystery.” 

“ You are goodness itselfl If, then, Guilford should be 
discovered to have given his heart to another, may I then 
hope, dearest Anne ? ” 

“ Yes; for there is no one next to him I think so highly 
of as you.” 


44 


RED HAND. 


This undisguised expression of her feelings filled the 
young man with joy. He pressed her hand to his lips with 
devotion and ardor, and she could see that his features 
were animate with hope and joy. 

As they sat by the spring they heard the voices of the two 
tipsy troopers singing through their noses a long-winded 
psalm, the sounds of which reaching the ears of other sol¬ 
diers quartered about in other huts, inspired them also with 
devotional psalmody, and soon the whole village was roaring 
with a noise of singing, which came louder from the village 
inn than from any other quarter. 


RED HAND. 


45 


CHAPTER Vir. 

A fugitive’s escape. 

When Guilford left the threshold of the cottage to take 
his way towards Castle Vane, in order to obtain a final inter¬ 
view with the beautiful and high-born maiden who had 
given him the preference of her pure affections, he walked 
for some minutes at the quick, impetuous step which his 
agitated feelings prompted. But after losing sight of the 
gate of the hut, and he had come upon the white sand 
beach, on which the moonbeams shone like silver, and upon 
the hard, marble-like floor of which the sparkling waves 
unrolled themselves like countless blue scrolls edged with 
pearl, the sweet influences of the scene carried quiet and 
comparative serenity to his soul. Gradually his footsteps 
slackened, and at length he came to a full stop and looked 
off and upward. 

“ Why should I let a storm rage in my bosom when all 
nature is so peaceful ? The blue skies are soft and fair, and 
the stars sparkle in them like celestial eyes, looking peace 
and joy on earth, while the heavens of my soul are clouded, 
and not a star of hope is glimmering in their wide horizon. 
Why,” he mused, “ why should I let mere feelings torture 
me so that I am more like one bereft of reason at the idea 
of losing Lady Catharine, than a sane man ? Let me borrow 
peace and calmness from the ocean, the sky, the stars, the 
whole repose of nature. I will be calm I I will reflect upon 
all this which has come upon me with firmness and honesty 
of conviction. My mother is right; I am doing the Lady 
Catharine wrong by thus holding her affections. My mother 
is right; she can never look upon me as her husband. She 
is infatuated. We haive both been blind. I will be the first 


40 


RED HAND. 


to break the spell. She will respect me the better for it. I 
will act as becomes a man of honor. She shall never have 
reason to despise me. But,” he added, as he paced slowly 
along the glittering beach, and mechanically picked up a 
shining shell for her, “ how shall I obtain an interview with 
her without encountering her brother ? Not that I fear him; 
but my hand would shrink from contact with one so nearly 
related to her. No doubt he would not hesitate to slay me 
on the first sight, and therefore did I bring weapons with 
me; but 1 shall use them only in self-defence.” 

He now proceeded along the beach for two hundred yards 
further, when he came to a jutting part of the cliff, on which 
the castle stood, which, advancing across the beach some 
yards into the water, stopped further progress on foot; but 
on the other side of this projecting wall of the precipice, the 
beach was continued, broad and white as before, for more 
than a league, and was the common way taken by the inhabi¬ 
tants along the coast from one hamlet to the other. But as 
the projecting cliff would have broken off all communication 
between the two parts of this beach pathway, two small 
boats had been immemorially kept there, one on one side 
and the other on the opposite side, for those who passed 
that way to row themselves round the spur of the rock. 

As the path by which Guilford usually visited the garden 
of the castle lay around the cliff, he now approached the 
little skiff, which had painted on its stern, “ Castle Vane,” 
it being the property of Lord Vane; he suddenly heard a loud 
shouting of numerous voices in the direction of the hamlet 
in his rear, and one or two discharges of harquebuses. The 
voices continued to advance, and looking back with surprise, 
and wondering at the cause, he saw far distant a single man 
running along the beach at his fleetest speed. His dark form 
was distinctly relieved against the white, moon-lit sand. The 
next moment, not a hundred and fifty yards behind him, 
came two others, who seemed in hot pursuit. Guilford had 
already placed his foot in the boat, and held the oar in his 
hand; but he remained motionless, watching the advance of 


RED HAm). 


47 


the fugitive, who each moment was gained upon by his 
pursuers. He now began to feel an interest in him, as every 
generous mind will instantly take part with the weakest; and 
this interest was not lessened when the pursuers increased 
to seven men, who shouted:— 

“ The sword of the Lord and Gideon I Death to the son of 
AnakI Slay the son of Belial I ” 

“ They are covenanters in chase of a loyalist,” said Guil¬ 
ford, biting his lip. “If he reaches here in good time, I 
will agree to save him at all risks.” 

At this moment he saw the fugitive stop, as his nearest 
pursuer was not twenty yards off, turn round, and deliber¬ 
ately fire at him. The man fell, and the fugitive once more 
bounded on his way. This bold and cool act elevated him 
not a little in the estimation of so brave a spirit as that of 
Guilford; and he watched the approach of the hunted loyal¬ 
ist, as he supposed him to be, with the deepest solicitude. 
A second pursuer, coming too near, shared the fate of the 
first; but a horse-trooper coming at spur-speed on the beach 
gained so rapidly on him that Guilford felt that, unless the 
man had another shot left, he would be taken. That he had 
not, Guilford saw very clearly by the almost superhuman 
efforts now made by the man to escape from the horseman. 

“I have a pistoll” cried Guilford, with admiration. 
“ These troopers are our natural foes. Shall I stand here 
and see a brave man taken, and perhaps slain before my 
face ? It may be the prince himself for aught I know. I 
will give him all the aid I can, whosoever he bel ” 

He then pushed the skiff a little out from the beach, and 
placed the oars so that they could be used instantly, and 
then hastened to meet the fugitive, who ran heavily, as if 
he had nearly lost his wind. 

“Courage, my friend I” shouted Guilford. “I have a 
shot for the trooper I Run a little further, and there is a boat 
to escape in.” 

The sound of the encouraging voice of the young fisherman 
seemed to give new spirits to the pursued stranger, who 


48 


RED HAND. 


waved his hand, and came forward at a more vigorous pace. 
The horseman also increased his speed; and when the fugi¬ 
tive had got within twenty fathoms of the boat, the trooper 
was alongside of him, with his broad claymore sweeping 
around above his head, ready to descend upon the neck of 
the royalist. Guilford was not near enough to aid in warding 
of the blow, which the fugitive could not do, having, as 
Guilford perceived, no sword, and but one hand; and the 
young fisherman brought his huge pistol to bear upon the 
broad chest of the trooper, and fired it. The man received 
the ball in his heart, and tumbled from his horse upon the 
beach, with the sword which he held aloft, ready to aim the 
blow, lying broken under him in the sand. 

“ Gallantly done, young man I ” cried the fugitive. “ You 
have saved my life!’’ And he pressed Guilford’s hand to 
his bosom. 

“We have not a moment to lose, my lord!” said Guilford. 
“ Quickly, into the boat! ” 

“I need no urging, my brave fellow,” answered the 
stranger, stepping into the boat, which Guilford in a few 
seconds rowed out from the land and around the rock, behind 
which he disappeared as two more horsemen came up to the 
fallen body of their companion. One of them, with reckless 
hardihood, spurred his horse into the sea, and compelled him 
to swim out, as if his rider were resolved to let no obstacle 
prevent him from capturing the fugitive. But the weight of 
the man, who was gigantic in size, and the terror of the 
animal, after a short distance brought on a terrible struggle 
between life and death; apd, in vain attempting to extricate 
himself from the saddle and stirrups, the man sunk with his 
horse and disappeared forever. 

At this tragical result the other troopers paused on the 
shore, and as the cliff presented an insurmountable barrier 
to their further progress, the escape of the fugitive was 
effectually secured. 

“They cannot come after us here,” said Guilford, as he 
drove the boat against the beach beyond the rock. 


The Escape of the Fugitive.—page 48 









































































































































RED HAND. 


49 


“ ALd to what brave young man am I indebted for my 
safety ? ” asked the stranger, who pressed the hand of the 
young fisherman with strong emotion. 

“ I am but a fisherman, my lord, who lives in the hamlet 
from which you came, and by good fortune having an errand 
this way, was enabled to afford you the assistance I ha^ e. ' 

“ And good aid it was, and gallantly well lent to r -r 
you have as steady a hand and as true an eye with a 
as any king’s cavalier of the guards. What is thy 7 :t . t . - 

for I would befriend thee, if some day I have in rvy 
power.” 

“ Guilford Graham, sir cavalier,” answered Guilford, who 
could see by the dress and bearing of the stranger that he 
was a man of very different stamp from the Roundheads. As 
the moonlight shone full upon him, Guilford could see that 
he was a well-made man, of thirty-seven or eight years, with 
long black locks floating to his neck, his air proud, and his 
bearing bold and resolute. But his curiosity was awakened 
to know how he had lost his right hand. This curiosity was 
perhaps apparent in Guilford’s looks, for the stranger said:— 
“ I suppose you would like to know who lam? You ought 
to know, but in these days it is not safe always for men to 
carry their appellations posted on their breast-plates. You 
say we are safe here. It may be that you are; but as for 
me, I am not safe on any foot of England’s soil on the Sus¬ 
sex coast. Look you I Hast thou seen any sail in the ofllng 
towards the sundown ? ” 

“ Methinks, my lord ”- 

“ Nay, how dost thou know me ? ” 

“ I do not, my lord. I did give thee but the chance title 
of respect.” 

“ Drop it, lest it be not over-safe. Call me captain, and 
thou wilt have a handle to my name. What didst thou see ? ” 
“Ear in the south and west I thought I saw the upper 
sails of a brigantine, standing coastwise; but I was too much 
taken up with my own affairs just then to give it or its 
course especial heed.” 

. 4 , 


50 


RED HAND. 


“ You shall know enough of me, young man, to know that 
I am expecting a vessel in this night from the channel to 
take me off. Pull out a bit from the shore, if thine own 
business be not too pressing, and let me look about. I shall 
feel more secure with an acre or two of broad sea-water lying 
between me and the main. Any moment these troopers 
may circumvent us by the castle road, and pounce upon 
us.’^ 

‘‘ That is true. I will row out with you a mile or two, and 
if you see nothing of the craft you look for, captain, I will 
land you on such part of the coast as you may name, if it be 
not so far off that I cannot return hither by midnight.” 

“ An affair of love thou hast on thy hands. I’ll be sworn 
for you,” answered the captain, laughing; “but I will not 
keep thee long. If I see nothing of the boat I look for in an 
hour, I will put back with you, and trust to you to find me a 
hiding-place for another day.” 

Guilford was so captivated by a certain frank, chivalrous 
manner of the stranger, and he seemed to place such unsus¬ 
pecting confidence in him, that he resolved, even if it should 
defer his interview with Lady Catharine to another night, to 
give this night to securing the safety of his new friend. 
That he was some flying cavalier he was well convinced in 
his own mind; and he ran over in his memory the names of 
several of the most distinguished whom he had heard as hav¬ 
ing been banished, or against whom sentence had been 
declared, with the probability that this stranger might be one 
of them. 

“ I will go with you, sir,” he answered, “ cheerfully; and 
if you do not see your vessel, and your head is in danger on 
land, I think I can manage to run across to the French coast 
in a fishing-smack to-morrow night.” 

“ Parbleu, mon ami! ” exclaimed the captain, with a laugh. 
“ The land of Monsieur will burn my feet as badly as the 
land of John Bull. No, no; I am safe only on the deck of 
my own ship.” 

“ Then you have a ship, sir ? ” 


RED HAND. 


61 


“ Ay, have I, and a better keel cuts not the waters of the 
channel. It is she that I am waiting for. Now wc are clear 
from the shore again I can breathe more freely. Pull out 
steadily a mile or so, and then we will look about us.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 

A STARTLING ADVENTURE. 

Guilford rowed out from the beach straight into the 
channel. As they got far enough from the shore to look 
round on the other side of the rock, they saw the troopers 
retiring, bearing oif the dead bodies of their comrades who 
had fallen in the pursuit. 

“ Did you ever kill a man before ? ” asked the captain, of 
Guilford, who had drawn his attention to the scene on the 
shore. 

“No, sir.” 

“You could hardly do so in a better cause. If you had 
not shot that fellow, he would have cloven me to the earth. 
I was never harder beset in my life, and yet I have not 
always passed my days in a lady’s boudoir.” 

“ One would not think so, sir, to see you. I dare say you 
lost your hand in some famous battle ? ” 

The brow of the stranger, naturally black, became sud¬ 
denly dark as night. He was silent for a few moments, and 
then answered, in tones that thrilled the very heart’s blood 
of the young fisherman:— 

♦‘No, sir; on the scaffold I ” 

4 



62 


KED HAND. 


“ On the scaffold I ” repeated Guilford, with a start and a 
look that betrayed his surprise; and in his excitement he 
ceased rowing, and regarded the stranger with a new and 
strange interest. 

‘‘ Do not cease to row, my young friend. I would gain a 
good sea-berth. Your eyes are sharp. Look, and tell me 
what you see in the south. I fancied I caught a flash of 
fire in that quarter, just west of the moon’s path.” 

“ So did I, sir. There are three lights burning, one above 
another. They are small, but I see them distinctly.” 

“ And so do I,” answered the captain, springing to his 
feet, and speaking with animated joy. “ That is my boat. 
It was to row in from the ship, which was to remain in 
mid-channel, and every ten minutes, as she pulled towards 
the little port of Blithelmstone, was to display three lan¬ 
terns upon an oar. By being out here half a league from 
land I shall save them the trouble of going further in, and 
you the time—which I know you are generously giving me 
—from the try sting tree. I know it is unfair to rob a lover 
of one moment of such heavenly moonlight as this.” 

“ Nay, sir cavalier,” answered Guilford, who each moment 
felt drawn out to like the man whose life he had saved, and 
to confide in him; “it needs but little light for a lover to 
take his last adieu of his lady-love.” 

“ Whatl Is it so ? It must be, from thy tones, and the 
tremor of thy lip. What, a quarrel ? ” 

“ No, my lord. Do not ask me more.” 

“ Nay, but thy happiness shall be in my keeping. Thou 
Shalt tell me thy tale on board my ship. It may be I can 
serve thee where thou little thickest.” 

“ Thanks, captain; but no one can aid me. It is settled 
without charge.” 

“ > will judge of that when I have made thee tell me thy 
love-story. Seel there shine the lights again nearer. The 
rogues are pulling in towards the land, little guessing their 
master is so near them. If they had been a-land two hours 
earlier, I should not have been exposed to be h^ . i 


HED HAI^D. 


fox as I was. Pull a little across the course of the boat, so 
that we can meet her.” 

Guilford could now plainly see, not a quarter of a mile off, 
a black four-oared barge pulling steadily in towards the land. 
No lights were now visible on board, but every few minutes 
three round, swinging lanterns had been displayed for a 
moment and then removed. As the boats drew near each 
other, the barge was stopped suddenly, and there was dis¬ 
tinctly heard the clicking of steel against flint. 

“ My merry men are regular devils to be on the alert,” said 
the captain. “ They would hammer their flints if they saw 
a pair of gulls sailing near on a rotten spar. They will 
challenge us, and if we are not quick to give a satisfactory 
response, they will give us, without strive or shrift, a couple 
of pounds of harquebus balls in our ribs.” 

Scarcely had the stranger spoken, than there came sternly 
across the water the sonorous hail:— 

‘‘ What boat is there ? ” 

“ The prince! ” responded the cavalier. 

At this the crew of the other boat gave a hearty British 
huzza; and, the oars falling into the water, the barge came 
bounding across the intervening space of water like an arrow. 
The next moment the two boats were side by side and 
stationary. Guilford had been struck with amazement when 
he heard the stranger’s answer; and believing that it was 
indeed the prince in person, though he had believed him to 
be a more youthful-looking man, he sprang forward to kiss 
his hand and declare his devotion to him even in his exile. 

“ Nay, my brave friend,” said the stranger raising him up, 
“ I am not the prince; but I wish I were, for thy sake and 
his own, for I fear me he has not the good fortune to be so 
well out of England as I am. The answer I gave is but the 
name of my ship, and the sign of my presence to my men. 

I am glad to meet you again, my trusty hearts! ” he now 
said, turning to the crew; and at the same time he exchanged 
friendly salutations with a young ofllcer who commanded the 
barge, and who seemed exceedingly happy to see him. 


64 


mo HAKD. 


“ And where is the ship, Edward ? ” he asked of him. 

“ To the south-west about four miles,” 

“ Are all well on board ? ” 

“ All, my lord.” 

“ And any news ? You have been late.” 

“We would have been in earlier, but a yacht was hover¬ 
ing about us till night, and kept us from advancing; and at 
length it became so close a watcher that the count fired a gun 
and brought her to and captured her. He feared they would 
run in and report the ship.” 

“ He did right. Whose yacht was it ? ” 

The answer was spoken in so low a tone that Guilford did 
not hear it, for the young officer seemed to speak with con¬ 
straint before him. 

“ Ah, do not fear my friend here, Edward. I owe my life 
to his courage. You must know, I was seated in the village 
inn, quietly waiting for the night, after having by a miracle 
got away from London, when all at once the tap-room was 
filled by as truculent a set of Cromwell’s worthies as you ever 
chanced to meet with. Well, I had to put a bold face on the 
matter, and pretended to take no notice of them. I soon 
found they were despatched to guard the coast, to prevent 
Prince Charles from getting out of England; for Oliver has 
sent guards from Land’s End to Newcastle, to keep him 
within the island; but heaven grant him a safe escape from 
his toils and a triumph over all his enemies I ” 

“AmenI” said Guilford, in so hearty a tone that the 
youthful seaman who had been called Edward grasped him 
by the hand and said, enthusiastically:— 

“ Whoever you are, you are my friend, since you pity the 
prince.” 

Guilford returned the pressure with delight, and the 
captain resumed:— 

“ My wits were now set to work to find some way of 
getting out of the inn without attracting the particular notice 
of these suspicious Roundheads. But the first movement 
which I made to rise to settle my bill and leave was observed 


RED HAKD. 


55 


by two of them, who came near and said, impertinently and 
in their sanctimonious whine:— 

“ ‘ Brother, thou needest not depart. Thou shalt abide and 
sup with us and we will drink to the health of the Joshua of 
the Lord.’ 

“ By this I knew they meant Oliver their master, and I 
swore internally that I would have my tongue cut out before 
I would lift a cup to my lips in his honor. So I resolved, 
before I drew the notice of more of them upon me, that I 
would bolt at once, and trust to my good fortune; for if they 
were by chance to discover who I was, I knew my fate was 
sealed. So, without more ado, I seized a settle, and, swing¬ 
ing it broadly, knocked my two friends to the floor, and 
clearing my way, I gained the outside of the hostel, and then 
ran for it. It was some seconds before they fully understood 
the matter who were outside; but no sooner did the idea take 
them that I was not running for a wager, but for my head, 
than they were not backward in making sail after me. In¬ 
stinctively, I made for the sea-side, where I hoped to see my 
boat, for it was the hour I looked for her appearance to take 
me off to my ship. But no boat was to be seen, and I fol¬ 
lowed the beach at life-speed, followed by my pursuers, who 
gave race after me like a pack of hounds. I shot two of 
them as they came after me; but a third, who was mounted, 
would have cut me down but for this brave fellow, who 
knocked him out of his saddle with a pistolet shot, and then 
got me off in his boat, which was close at hand. So you see 
I had a narrow escape; and if you and my merry men love 
me, Edward, you will think much of this bold youth, Guilford 
Graham.” 

“We are friends from this hour,” answered the elegant 
young sailor, whom Guilford thought handsome enough to be 
a woman, and laying his hand affectionately upon his 
shoulder. 

“We will now pull to the ship,” said the captain; “ but, 
my brave flsherman, wilt thou not go on board with me ? I 
wish to show thee my brave craft, and my true men all, every 


m 


RED HAND. 


soul of whom will be thy friend for what thou hast done 
to-night. Come, do not hesitate. I will have thee and thy 
boat put adrift by sunrise, if thou likest, near enough to the 
coast for thee to row in in half an hour.” 

“ I will go on board if coming nearer the shore of England 
at dawn will not put thee in peril on my account.” 

“ Not a bit, my good friend; I care not, when I am aboard, 
how near I run in and snap my finger at Cromwell’s clumsy 
war-ships. Give way, my men; we will take the boat, to 
which I in part owe my safety, in tow.” 

Almost in opposition to his own real wishes, Guilford 
found himself consenting to visit the ship. The captain had 
fascinated him, and he felt that he should be content to 
unite his fortunes with his, after he should have taken fare¬ 
well of Lady Catharine. Indeed, from the first, when the 
stranger hinted mechanically that he had a ship, a wish was 
born in Guilford’s heart to sail with him, and win a name 
upon the seas. It was mainly under the impulse of this 
scarcely-formed idea that he yielded to the invitation of the 
captain to go on board. 

“ I will, at least, see for myself,” he said within himself, 
musingly; “ and if I find that here is a career open before 
me for honor and fame, I will embrace it, if this brave 
captain will take me into his service.” 

In half an hour after he had consented to be taken on 
board the ship, she was seen looming up about a mile distant, 
darkly and indistinct, like a huge floating castle with gray 
towers. A single blue light was placed over the quarter, as 
a guide to the boat, in order that it might not mistake 
another vessel for it. 

“ She is a very large vessel, sir,” remarked Guilford, as she 
grew larger and larger on the vision of his eye as they 
approached the place where she majestically rose and fell 
upon the long swells of the quiet and glassy sea. 

“ Yes; we have not less than three hundred men on board, 
and some thirty cannons at her sides, besides two swivels 
in each top.” 


RED HAND. 


57 


“ It must be a very fine thing to command so brave a ship 
as that, sir captain ? ” 

“ That is as a person’s ambition may measure. Some par¬ 
ticular friends of mine, young man, would hardly be content 
with less than a channel fleet.” 

“ I am sure I should consider my fortune made for life, 
sir, to command a single ship half the size of this. How 
grandly she towers upward, like Castle Vane seen from the 
beach 1 ” 

‘‘Castle Vane?—that is Lord Charles Vane’s residence, 
and is near where we embarked ? ” 

“ The very castle, sir, that is on the cliff.” 

“ So I supposed. Is Lord Vane at home, canst say ? ” 

“ The young lord, sir captain.” 

“ Ay—is he ? A young man that I do not much fancy.” 

“Nor I, my lord,” answered Guilford, speaking, without 
reflection, from the feeling of the moment. 

“ Hal Has he crossed thy path, then, young man ? ” 

“ I nke him not well, my lord.” 

“ Common report hath it that he hath a fair sister. Hast 
thou, living so near, by chance seen her ? If so, canst thou 
bear witness to her comeliness ? ” 

“ She is very fair, my lord captain.” 

“ Thou hast seen her, then ? ” 

“ Yes, my lord,” answered Guilford, blushing, and both 
pleased and annoyed at having Lady Catharine the subject 
of conversation. To him she was something consecrated to 
his most secret thoughts, and the idea of whom he could 
share with no one. 

“ She will be one of the proudest peeresses in the realm if 
the young king comes to the throne. Many a knight and 
noble, and I wot princes too, will be suing for her hand. 
But here we are, discovered and hailed.” 

Guilford’s heart was swelling. Hope was dying in him at 
these last words of the captain. He felt that he was mad 
longer to think of her. He now saw more vividly than ever 
his rashness and folly. 


58 


BED HAND. 


CHAPTER IX. 

A THRILLING SCENE. 

Judging from the captain’s reception on board his ship, 
Guilford entertained the highest notions of his authority and 
popularity. The scene which the long war-like decks pre¬ 
sented to his eyes, lighted up by rows of battle lanterns, 
was novel and stirring to the blood. Three hundred men 
were arranged in orderly ranks to welcome their returned 
chief, and the red glare of the lanterns falling upon their 
features, lent to their countenances and picturesque costumes 
a romantic character that did not fail to impress the lively 
imagination of young Guilford. There were at least a dozen 
oflScers also assembled on the quarter-deck, some of them 
with gray beards, others young and ardent. They were each 
and all handsomely attired in gold-laced coats and rich 
chapeaux with plumes. The whole appearance of the ship, 
with its tiers of cannon, its crowds of fighting men, armed 
with long pistolets and cutlasses, and its chivalrous-looking 
group of officers, who all seemed gentlemen born, struck 
Guilford in the most favorable manner. 

While he was casting his eyes about him, and filling them 
with the new scenes thus suddenly opened before him, the 
captain, who was plainly dressed and in travel-worn costume, 
placed his hand on his shoulder and said to his officers:— 

“ Messieurs, to this young fisherman I owe my life. I was 
hotly pursued to the coast by a score of Cromwell’s hounds, 
and this young man shot down the leading trooper and got 
me safely off in his boat. This is enough for me to say to 
place him on the proper footing with you all.” 

At this several of the officers advanced and shook Guilford 
by the hand, and especially the young men were enthusiastic 


RED HAND. 


69 


in their congratulations. Guilford’s feelings may be guessed 
at, but hardly described. His heart bounded with joy, for he 
felt that through this fair reception might be opened a way 
for his advancement. 

The captain now descended, or rather walked aft into his 
state-cabin, which was an elaborately carved house, built 
over the stern of the after twenty feet of the deck; for, like 
the ships of that period, the stern rose very loftily, so that a 
person standing on the top of the poop had his head very 
nearly on a level with the mizzen top. 

At the invitation of the captain, Guilford followed him 
into the first apartment—for there was a room within a room. 
Before the door of the farthest state-room stood a sentry. 

“ What, how is this ? ” he asked of his first lieutenant, 
seeing the soldier. 

“ My lord, here are the written reports of all that has 
transpired since we landed you three weeks ago, at Hastings, 
to go to London,” said that officer, handing him a book. 
“ You will find in it that last night we brought to a yacht, 
and have detained the parties, one of whom is a lady, and 
at the present time occupies the inner state-room.” 

“Yes, yes, Edward said something to me about it,” an¬ 
swered the captain; “ but as I am now on board, there can 
be no harm in letting them depart. Where is the yacht ? ” 

“ It is alongside, my lord.” 

“ How many persons did it contain ? ” 

“ Seven—a gentleman and young lady, one passenger, and 
a crew of four men.” 

“ Bring the gentleman before me.” 

“ My lord, shall I leave ? ” asked Guilford, who saw that 
this was to be a private interview. 

“No; remain where you are, my friend. I want to talk 
with you by and by.” 

The next moment the lieutenant returned, conducting the 
Lord Rudolph Yane into the state-cabin. His face was pale, 
and his eye had a tremulous light of fear in it. Guilford 
instantly recognized him, but not caring to be recognized in 


60 


KED HAND. 


return, he withdrew into the shadow of one of the gilded 
columns that supported the deck overhead. But the eyes of 
Lord Eudolph were fixed only on the dark, noble, command¬ 
ing face and form of the captain. 

“ I am sorry, sir, that my oflScer, in my absence, was under 
the necessity of detaining you. You are at liberty to depart 
at any moment. May I know whom I have the honor of 
entertaining as my guest ? ” 

‘‘ Lord Eudolph Vane, of Castle Vane,” answered the 
young man, haughtily; for, finding that no danger was to be 
apprehended, his native insolence and audacity returned. 

“Ah, my lord, indeedi I have heard of you,” said the 
captain, with a darkening brow; “ and what I have heard 
gives your honor not over much credit.” 

“ Do you insult me, sir ? ” demanded Eudolph, fiercely. 

“ Be calm, my lord. Your ire here will do you no good. 
You are in my hands, and if you knew who I am, you would 
expect the next moment to hear me give the order to have 
you hanged at my fore-yard-arm.” 

Lord Eudolph shuddered. His face became as pale as 
marble. 

“Who—who are you? What have you against me? 
You dare not harm me.” 

“No man dares me. Lord Vane. Last night, without 
knowing who you were, my officer in charge, seeing you 
hover about the ship like a spy, as no doubt you were, cap¬ 
tured you. My first order, before hearing your name, was 
for your release, for anything you can now report on land 
can do us no harm; for ere twelve hours, we shall be sailing 
many leagues from here. But since I learn who you are, I 
will show you that I am too far above you t© crush such a 
reptile. Deeply as you have wronged me, base as you are, 
recreant as you have proved to your oath as a noble, you are 
too far beneath my contempt to come within the notice of 
my vengeance.” 

“Who are you?” demanded Eudolph, with his eyes red 
with rage and alarm. 


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RED HAND. 


61 


“ I am the Earl of Villiers,’’ answered the captain, in a 
voice of thunder. 

Instantly Lord Rudolph sank upon his knees, like a man 
who has been smitten down by some irresistible stroke, his 
face white with fear and his lips trembling. 

“ Well may you tremble, caitiff I Ay, I am that nobleman 
—that friend of the king, who by your treachery was brought 
to the scaffold, and lost my right handl Lookyel” And 
the captain held up before the eyes of the terror-stricken 
young lord the stump of his wrist. “ Under mask of court¬ 
ing my daughter. Lady Jane, you wormed yourself into a 
loyal noble’s house, crept like a serpent into the sacred circle 
of my domestic hearth, crouched like a toad in the corner of 
my library and council-rooms till you learned that I was 
leader of a conspiracy to bring Cromwell’s head to the block. 
Then, charged with the news, thou didst mock my daughter’s 
love and leave her, and pour into the protector’s ear all thy 
treacherous intelligence. For this thou wert rewarded with 
my fair estate as the hire for thy villainy, and I and mine 
exchanged our sweet home for a prison. But thanks to thy 
sister, who, when she heard all that thou hadst done, and for 
love of my daughter, with whom she studied her books at 
common tutelage, my hand and not my head satisfied the 
usurper, and I, with my child, was exiled beyond the sea. 
Well mayest thou crouch and moan. There is no man on the 
round earth into whose hands you should not so much fear 
to fall as into mine.” 

The wretch remained upon his knees, looking the very 
pcture of fear and abjectness. The dread of the death which 
he felt he richly merited was stamped upon his clammy brow. 
His lips moved, as if trying to form words to ask for mercy, 
yet no sound came from them, as if he felt that all petitions 
would be in vain. 

“What hast thou to answer for thyself, thou false and 
traitorous noble ? Shall I not hang thee ? ” 

“ For my sister’s sakel ” he gasped, as if he had caught a 
faint ray of hope. 


62 


RED HAND. 


“ Thy sister! Ah, yes; for her sake I would do much, for 
I owe to her tears and eloquence with the stern, flinty 
Cromwell my head. What of her ? ” 

“ She is here! Let her speak for me.” 

‘‘ By the rood, she may speak for thy life and gain it; but 
thou shalt lose thy right hand this night, as surely as there 
is justice on earth.” ^ 

“ Mercy, mercy, my lord! ” 

“ Ho there! Lieutenant St. Clair! Call the men together 
to execution.” 

“ Oh, you are not going to kill me! ” 

“If thy sister pleads not for thy life, it is not worth a 
marvaredi to thee; but thy right hand shall be cut off. I 
have sworn it.” 

With a shriek, the craven noble fell down in a swoon his 
full length upon the floor. 

A voice from the inner cabin was now heard in earnest 
implorations. Guilford, who had already divined that Lady 
Catharine was the female who had been captured with the 
yacht, now recognized the tones, and he darted impulsively 
towards the. door; but the sentry presented his cutlass, and 
held him back. He then advanced towards the earl, and said 
with much excitement:— 

“ It is the Lady Catharine Vane, my lord; it is his sister.” 

“1 will at once speak with her,” he answered, and 
approached the door, which he unlocked. The maiden stood 
before it, with her toilet considerably disheveled, her rich 
hair freely floating upon her shoulders, and her beauty 
increased by the excitement of her feelings. 

“ Lady Catharine Vane, I am not your jailer, but your 
debtor,” said the earl, courteously. 

“ Why are we detained prisoners ? What is this I have 
overheard about the execution of my brother?” she asked, 
earnestly. 

“ Lord Rudolph is not to be executed if you ask his life; 
but he is nevertheless doomed to a punishment that no 
mediation can save him from. In me, lady, you behold 


RED HAND. 


63 


Lord Villiers. This name is enough to show you what I owe 
to your generous interposition, and what I owe to your 
brother. Here let me thank you, both for my daughter and 
for myself, for the life which you were instrumental in saving 
from the block.” 

“ Then spare my brother I Oh, he is already deadl ” she 
exclaimed, on discovering him upon the cabin floor, about 
being raised up and revived by some attendants. 

“ Nay, it’s only a swoon.” 

“ Oh, spare his life, my noble lordl ” 

“ I will do so, for your sake; and he shall understand that 
to you alone he owes it.” 

At this moment, in looking around her, her eyes fell on 
Guilford, who was standing near, reserved and diflSdent, 
listening to what was said. She no sooner beheld him than 
she seemed to forget everything else, everybody about her; 
for, running towards him, she caught him by both hands, 
and exclaimed, with the artless delight of a child which 
amid strangers suddenly discovers a familiar face:— 

“ You here, Guilford ? Heaven be praised I ” 

The earl, who saw the act, and observed the expression of 
pure delight and frankness upon her beautiful face, was not 
a little surprised; and when he saw this pleasure reflected 
from the handsome features of the young fisherman, he was 
not a little perplexed. 

“ Do not fear. Lady Kate. You are safe, and in the hands 
of a noble gentleman,” said Guilford, encouragingly. 

“ I hope you are not here a prisoner—that you are not in 
any danger ? ” 

“Be assured. Lady Catharine,” said the earl, smiling, 
“ that there is not at this moment a more honored person 
in this ship than this young man, who, I am pleased to see, 
is also known to you. To him I owe my life. He brought 
me off to my ship in his boat, and without his gallant aid 
I should now no longer be alive.” 

“Plead for me, Catharine I” suddenly called out the 
young noble, who hO'd been brought to his senses. 


64 


KED HAND. 


“ She has done so successfully, my lord,” answered the 
earl, coldly. “ She has gained thy life for thee.” 

“ But my handl You will not cut off my hand ? ” 

“ Were an angel to descend from the blue skies and ask 
me to spare thy hand, I would not do it. It is need and 
ripe justice that thou shouldst not go unpunished.” 

“ My lord, mercy for my brother I ” 

“ Lady,” said the earl, taking the beautiful maiden by the 
hand and leading her gently into the rear state-room, “ do 
not pain me by compelling me to deny what I cannot grant. 
Believe me, this is not vengeance, but duty. It is justice 
that Lord Rudolph should be compelled to suffer what he 
has been instrumental in inflicting upon me.” 

“ Oh, my lord, leave vengeance to him to whom it 
belongeth.” 

“ It is not vengeance, it is punishment. Remain here. 
Do not leave until I return to you,” he said, kindly but 
firmly. “ But for thy presence here, I should have hanged 
him to the yard-arm—not from personal hatred, but because 
he is so sleepless a foe to the prince. He even condescends 
to play the spy in the channel in his own person. The lesson 
he must have. I will return to you in a few moments.” 


KED HANP. 


65 


CHAPTER X. 

LORD RUDOLPH’S PUNISHMENT. 

The Lady Kate sat upoa the ottoman where he had left 
her, with her hands pressed to her eyes and her face buried 
in the cushions. She saw that the earl was inexorable; and 
although her brother had never been otherwise than hostile 
towards her ever since she had pleaded so successfully for 
the Earl of Yilliers, yet she could not forget that he was her 
brother; and although he deserved nothing at her hands, 
yet she felt that she ought to use all her influence to free 
him from the disgraceful maiming to which he was about to 
be subjected. 

“ Bat I can do no more,” she said. “ His fate is seaied. 
I saw that by the earl’s eye as he left me. Ah, poor, erring 
Eudolphl Thou canst blame only thyselfl HorridI that 
rolling drum must be the signal for the execution of the 
inflexible earl’s command I” 

When the earl returned from the state-room where he had 
left the tearful maiden, he found Lord Rudolph, who had 
recognized Guilford, and with surprise seen that he was 
regarded with favor, pleading with the young fisherman to 
intercede for him. 

‘‘You are not a prisoner. I know you can forgive me, for 
you are naturally generous, I have heard my sister say. Speak 
a word for me. I cannot endure the loss of my hand I For 
my sister’s sake, do plead for me I ” 

“ I have no power, my lord,” answered Guilford, who 
could not conceal his contempt for his cowardly conduct at 
a time when a truly brave spirit would meet its fate with 
proud indifference. But there was nothing truly great about 
liOrd Rudolph. He could be haughty and cruel in possessioi^ 


RED HAND. 


of power, but in suffering he showed in its true colors all 
the weakness and insignificance of his character. 

“ Will no one intercede for me ? ” he cried in despair, 
seeing Guilford turn away, for he well knew that if Lady 
Kate could not prevail, no word he could utter would be 
regarded. 

“ Is it all ready ? ” quietly demanded the earl of the officer 
who had superintended the preparations for the execution of 
the sentence. 

“ All ready, my lord,” answered the oflScer. 

“ Conduct Lord Yane to the deck, unless he will walk of 
himself.” 

“Is there no mercy with thee?” screamed the young 
nobleman. 

“ Thou mightest as well talk to the axe that is to sever 
thy hand. Proceed with him, as he is disposed to linger. 
Nay, do not handle him roughly, for he is of noble birth.” 

The young lord was then led to the deck. He was borne 
along rather than went by his own will. The scene was 
terribly imposing. In the centre of the ship, just abaft the 
capstan, was placed a block. By it stood four men. One of 
them held a glittering battle-axe in his hand; another a 
brazen basin; the third and fourth lanterns. A little in the 
advance stood the chirurgeon of the ship, with his instru¬ 
ments and bandages, added to which was a seething hot iron, 
for stopping the flow of the blood. The crew stood around, 
seven and eight deep, their bearded faces lighted up by the 
lanterns that hung in the rigging. Farther aft were the 
ofllcers, with their swords in their hands. 

When Lord Rudolph gazed on this scene, so well calcu¬ 
lated to appal his nerves, he gave utterance to an audible 
groan. 

“ Take him in hand, executioner,” said the earl, “ and at 
the stroke of the ship’s bell, do your duty. This man,” 
added the earl, looking about him, “is to undergo a just 
punishment. By his information I was condemned to the 
scaffold; but through the intercession of n noble maiden, 


RED HAND. 


67 


Cromwell was content with my hand. I have decreed that 
this young lord shall share the punishment which his master 
inflicted upon me.” 

At this there was a general murmur of approbation, and 
the interest deepened. Lord Rudolph, being led up to the 
block, was told to take off his coat. But not obeying, it was 
removed by another, and his arm was then stretched out and 
bound firmly, in spite of his struggles and shrieks, to the 
block. The executioner’s axe descended upon the wrist, 
and while a thrilling shriek from the victim rent their ears, 
the bleeding hand was caught in the brazen basin. The 
chirurgeon instantly proceeded to perform his duty, and 
staunch the blood, while the stern earl, turning away from 
the spot, reentered the state-room. 

“ This act of justice done, I am more content to be branded 
as Red Hand, as men catching up Cromwell’s epithet have 
called me, far and wide. But the protector shall feel that 
if one of my hands is baptized in the blood of the scaffold, 
the other hath power enough in its strong nerve to shake 
his usurped throne I ” 

The earl walked up and down his cabin three or four 
times, under much excitement, which the recent occurrence 
had naturally awakened in his bosom. He then looked 
around, as if he were seeking for some one. 

“What, hoi where is young Graham?” he asked of the 
sentry who stood by the half-open door which led into the 
inner apartment. 

“He passed in, my lord, urging that he must speak with 
the lady; and as you had left the door open, I did not consider 
that she was to be regarded as a prisoner.” 

“ Very well; you are released from duty.” 

The man retired and the earl advanced to the door which 
was ajar. He opened it and was about to enter, when he 
arrested himself on the threshold at what he beheld. Kneel¬ 
ing at the feet of the weeping girl was the young fisherman, 
his hand clasping hers, and his face near hers, and expres¬ 
sive of the tenderest and most respectful sympathy. 

0 


68 


EED HAND. 


It is over now, Lady Kate; tears are of no avail. If it 
would have pleased thee, I would gladly have taken his 
place, though thou knowest I have little reason to love him. 
But all who are related to thee are near to me, for thy sake. 
Let us be content that his life is spared, for it was the cap¬ 
tain’s certain purpose to have hanged him, but for thee.” 

“ I cannot blame—I cannot reproach. Rudolph must feel 
the justice of his fate,” she said, with sudden resolution. 
“ But how earnest thou on board this terrible vessel ? ” 

“I came to bring off the captain, who, being on shore, 
was set upon and nearly slain by Cromwell’s troopers; and 
although I was on my way, dearest Lady Kate, to the castle 
to see thee, I turned aside for his safety, and came hither, 
little expecting to find thee on board as I have done.” 

“ My brother, when he had taken me from your fishing- 
boat—how I chanced to be in which I explained to him— 
instead of going to land, hovered in the channel till night, 
and then began to watch this vessel, which he was expecting 
for four nights, waiting to intercept the captain from the 
land when he should come on board, as I heard him say to 
the young man with him, who is one of Cromwell’s agents. 
Do you know who the captain is ? ” she asked pointedly and 
in an undertone. 

“The Earl Villiers.” 

“ Yes, but are you aware that this ship is that of the far- 
famed Red Hand ? ” 

“Of Red Hand, the buccaneer?” exclaimed Guilford 
starting to his feet with surprise. 

“ Earl Villiers and Red Hand, of whom I have heard you 
name the bold exploits, are one and the same person.” 

“Can this be possible? Are you in the power of this 
terrible man?” 

“ You mistake him. It is the common people, the Round- 
heads, who call him a pirate. He is no buccaneer, Guilford, 
but an exiled noble, who has united with himself many 
brave spirits like his own, who in this ship, hover about 
England^ seeking to do all the injury to the usurper’s cause 


HEi) HAND. 


69 


that lies in their power, and to have ever ready for the 
prince an armed ship to take him over the sea when he is 
driven to the last foothold on his rightful kingdom. There 
is not a truer noble breathes in England than Lord Villiers, 
known as Red Hand. I can forgive him his punishment of 
Rudolph, for my brother has cruelly caused all his woe.” 

“ And is this Red Hand’s ship ? Is that captain whose 
life I saved on shore, the daring channel cruiser who has 
defied and beaten off four of the protector’s ships ? Is this 
the man that I regarded as the hero of romance, and whose 
exploits were the wonder of my curiosity ? I am glad you 
have corrected my error with regard to him. Lady Kate. 
But is he called Red Hand the Rover often ? ” 

“Yes, the Covenanters, who fear him, would frighten 
their children with his name as with a goblin’s. But I know 
that he is a true and loyal Englishman, and one of the 
staunchest friends of the crown; and that he does more to 
keep alive the flame of loyalty by his active and sleepless 
courage than any of the exiled lords. He alone, as it were, 
wages war against Cromwell, who has offered vast sums for 
his capture. All this I have learned from my father, who 
has the highest regard for him, and who has shed many a 
bitter tear that he should have had a son who could inflict 
such injury upon him. Confide in him, Guilford, and he 
will be your friend.” 

“ Catharine,” said Guilford, in a changed and formal tone, 
while Lord Villiers, who at each moment was tempted to 
enter, but was yet restrained, saw that his face grew pale and 
his lips colorless. She looked up into his face with a stare 
of surprise at this unusual mode of addressing her. 

“ What is it, Guilford ? ” she asked artlessly. 

“ I told you that last night, when I was so fortunate as to 
offer assistance to Lord Villiers, I was on my way to the castle. 
It was in order to see you and have a last interview with you. 
It was to take leave of you forever.” 

“ Take leave of me forever, Guilford ? Where are you 
going? or what have I done? ” she asked with surprise. 


HED HAKD. 


no 


“Nothing* Where I am going, I know not. But one 
thing it is proper for me to do, and that is to break off a 
friendship which will only continue to embarrass you, when 
you reflect upon your own position and my low station. 
Perhaps, as younger, it was allowable, as you condescended 
to suffer it; but. Lady Catharine, I cannot expect you, in 
womanhood, to abide by the friendship of girlhood. Here 
let me say farewell; for I may have no other opportunity. 
May you one day be united with one worthy of you in rank 
and virtue, and I will always pray for your happiness.” 

With these words he knelt, pressed her hand to his lips, 
and was retiring precipitately, when he found himself face 
to face with the earl. 

“ My young friend, do not be so hasty. I have heard and 
understand it all. You have acted nobly. Your own heart 
is breaking as a sacrifice to what you believe to be a duty. 
Lady Catharine, you look puzzled and distressed. May I 
ask you one plain question ? ” 

“ Yes, my lord.” 

“ Are you attached to this brave young man ? ” 

“ We have long been friends, my lord.” 

“ Have you any wish to terminate the friendship ? ” 

“ Indeed, I was never more surprised. When ”- 

“It IS because you do not clearly understand him. He 
feels, and properly, that you and he can never be united as 
if you had both been noble; and being fully alive to the 
difficulties that must interpose to bar such a union, he nobly 
sacrifices himself.” 

“ He then does not understand me, my lord. I have taken 
into thought the differences of our rank. I trust, Guilford, 
you will think of this no more.” 

“You are too kind and generous. Lady Catharine,” said 
Guilford, casting himself at her feet. “ But I must win a 
name, to make myself worthy of you. If you waive all rank, 
I shall try and achieve, instead, merit. It shall be my 
ambition to make myself worthy of you, and make the world 
respect him whom Lady Catharine Vane thus honors.” 


KED HAND. 


71 


CHAPTEK XI. 

THE RETURN TO CASTLE VANE. 

The interview with which the last chapter closed having 
thus happily terminated the earl, after complimenting Guil¬ 
ford on his spirit, proposed to him, if nothing better offered, 
to take service with him in his ship. 

“We shall not always be wanderers over the sea, my 
friend,” he said; “the prince will one day gain his throne, 
and then we shall be at the top. As for Lady Catharine’s 
heart, you may be sure it is in the right place; and I have a 
higher regard for you than before, since I find you possess 
qualities to win the attachment of so lovely a lady, who, in 
the brightness of your character, can discover no obscurity 
of birth. Now I have one favor to ask of you,” added the 
earl, “ and that is, that you will take command of the yacht 
and convey Lord Rudolph and his fair sister safely back to 
Castle Yane. He will, of course, be something of an 
invalid, and must be well cared for. The person who was 
taken with him in the yacht, is a spy of Cromwell’s and I 
shall take care of him here. If at any time you wish to join 
my fortunes, you will hear of me if you will run over in your 
boat to the French coast, and land on the island of Alderney, 
off Cape de la Hague. At that little port there is an inn, 
painted red. The landlord always knows my term of absence 
when I am away; and any line left there for me will be 
faithfully given into my possession when I put in there.” 

Guilford thanked the earl, and answered that he thought 
he should very soon be compelled to take him at his word. 

“ Thou shalt be welcome; and although I can do but little 
for thee under my present fortunes, some day, when I rise 
you will rise with me.” 


72 


RED HAND. 


‘‘ But, my noble earl, I fear,” said Guilford, sadly, “ that 
I shall hardly ever rise so high as to be able to offer the 
Lady Catharine a hand that would not be despised by her 
proud house.” 

“ Courage, my brave youth. In these toppling times they 
who are at the bottom of the ladder to-day, to-morrow may 
stand on the top round. With a face, figure, health and 
courage like yours, and above all, with such a prize to win, 
you have nothing to fear.” 

This conversation took place in the outer cabin. The 
ofiScer of the deck now entered and reported that the yacht 
was alongside and her crew on board, and all was ready for 
her departure. 

“ That is as it should be. Kow, my young friend, you must 
convey Lord Rudolph and the maiden to Castle Yane. Go 
on board, and Lady Catharine shall be escorted by me into 
the yacht.” 

Guilford then took a grateful leave of the formidable Red 
Hand, in whose dread presence he could scarcely realize 
himself to have been, and descended into the ya(jht. The 
moonlight shone brightly upon its low deck, on which, 
stretched upon a cot, he saw the prostrate form of Lord 
Rudolph, looking ghastly pale in the face. He advanced 
towards him, and said:— 

“I hope, my lord, you do not suffer a great deal of 
pain ? ” 

“Pain I I endure infernal torments. Who are you? I see 
now. What do you want in my yacht ? ” 

“ I am ordered by Lord Yilliers to take charge of it and 
see you safely to Castle Vane, as he can spare none of his 
men.” 

“ Where is Tennett ? ” 

“Who, my lord?” 

“ The gentleman who came with me.” 

“ I heard the earl say that as he was a spy of Cromwell’s, 
he should put him in irons. My lord, I have no desire to 
undertake this duty, but it is the earl’s command. I am 


RED HAND. 


fruly sorry for your misfortune, and will see you to Castle 
Vane with all tenderness.” 

“ And Lady Kate ? ” 

The answer to this interrogation was prevented by the 
appearance of Red Hand, conducting the noble girl to the 
yacht. Guilford sprang forward to receive her and lead her 
to a seat in the stern; but she stopped short of it, and bent 
over her brother with affectionate solicitude. 

“Kow, my noble young friend,” said Lord Yilliers, “I 
need not tell you what a valuable freight 1 entrust to your 
charge. Farewell; and remember,” he added, in an under¬ 
tone, “ Alderney Isle and the inn, if you have need of my 
poor services. And for you. Lord Rudolph, I wish you a 
better heart and more true nobility. I have given you a 
daily remembrance of me, so I will not ask you to bear me 
in mind. Adieu, fair Lady Catharine; what I have wit¬ 
nessed and learned of the true nobility of your charactei 
to-night, has caused me to respect you as one of the rarest 
jewels among women. You have not,” he added to her ear, 
“ lightly bestowed your heart. Believe me, this brave youth 
will yet cause his name to fill a brilliant page in England’s 
history.” 

“ I feel it, my lord. He is all that is good and noble and 
true.” 

“ Love and cherish him, for women do not always find 
men to love. I hope one of these days to hear of your happi¬ 
ness. Farewell; it is but two leagues to your father’s castle. 
Commend me to him; but do not from me excuse my punish¬ 
ment of his son, for I have performed but a stern and 
painful duty.” 

“ I know it, my lord,” she answered sadly. 

He pressed her hand to his lips, and left the deck of the 
yacht for his own lofty ship. 

The next moment the little vessel was cast off from the 
huge side of the channel cruiser, and taking the helm, Guil¬ 
ford gave orders to the crew to trim the sails, and with a 
light but favorable breeze, he lay the course of the yacht for 


74 


hed hand. 


the main. The ship at the same time squared her enormous 
yards, and her head swinging round westward, she steered 
on that tack till Guilford could see her n-j longer. The 
yacht, in the meanwhile, bounded lightly along on her land¬ 
ward tack, and clearer and higher the cliff with its castle 
rose before him. The lights of the little village at its base 
appeared one after the other; and from one of the towers 
one light, brighter than the rest, shone like the lantern of a 
Pharos. 

“That is my father’s room, Guilford,” said Lady Kate, 
seeing that he was regarding it. “Doubtless he is seated 
there at his books, for he has the name of being a great 
scholar, thou hast heard.” 

“ Perhaps it is to guide thee back.” 

“ Kay, he or no one is aware that I have been on the sea 
the last twelve hours. You recollect, Guilford, that my get¬ 
ting into your boat was only a whim of the moment; and 
after my brother so strangely took possession of me, I had 
no chance of return. Perhaps my father supposes that I am 
in my room; for I am so much accustomed to rove about for 
hours, that unless I am particularly wanted, it is not known 
whether I am in the castle or abroad.” 

“ I hope you will not have been missed.” 

“ Catharine,” said Lord Kudolph, in a querulous voice. 

“ What, brother Eudolph?” she answered, hastening to 
his side. “ You have slept well ? ” 

“ I wish to exact an oath from you. I see we are near the 
castle. Swear to me, by your hopes of heaven, that you 
will never reveal to my father nor any other living being 
the disgrace I have to-night suffered I ” 

“I will not reveal it, brother, if you desire the secret to 
be kept.” 

“ Desire it to be kept! It must be kept a close secret 1 If 
you do not blab it, and this fishing friend of yours can be 
forced to be secret, I will manage to hide from my friends 
the loss of my hand, I could never endure the scornful 
laugh, the consciousness of a mutilation so degrading.” 


HED HAI^D. 


75 


“ But it must be known, brother.” 

“ It is known only to the crew of this infernal pirate, not 
one of whom will ever dare land in England. If you keep 
the secret, and this fellow can be made to do it”- 

“ Guilford Graham is a man who can be trusted, brother,” 
she said with some earnestness. 

“ So you think. He has fascinated you, girl, by some 
vile spell. Call him to me. Hay, I will not speak to him, 
but will leave it to you to exact silence from him.” 

“ I will promise it for him. But you forget the four men, 
your crew.” 

“ They are minions of my will. Go and see what this 
Graham answers.” 

In a frame of mind far from welcome. Lord Kudolph lay 
upon his couch; for his pride struggling with a fierce senti¬ 
ment of hatred and craven fear, and mingling with some 
little degree of remorse, kept up a fearful tempest of passion 
in his soul. Lady Catharine left him, on her message to 
Guilford, a prey to emotions of perfect torture. However, 
by an effort stronger than was his wont, he checked their 
sway, and awaited, coolly as he might, the answer of 
Guilford. 

“He says he has'-no desire to report it,” she answered, 
after going to the helm where Guilford stood, steering the 
vessel in towards the foot of the cliff. 

“I shall take care to keep it myself,” he muttered, smil¬ 
ing, as if he heard her words with evident satisfaction. 

The yacht now drew nearer the land, and was soon within 
the black shadow cast by the tall cliff. A few minutes after¬ 
wards she came to the stone pier, where the boats of the 
castle were usually moored. Here Guilford brought the 
yacht skillfully to alongside the landing steps. The men 
obeyed his orders in furling the canvass and making her fast; 
and then taking the cot upon which the young lord was 
ttiey proceeded to bear him ashore, and convey him 
up the steep path to the castle. Guilford gave his whole 
attention to the comfort of the invalid, taking care that the 


76 


HAND. 


men moved steadily and cautiously, while Lady Kate went 
on before. At length they reached the gate of the castle, 
where after delivering his charge to the warder, to whom 
Lord Rudolph said he had been wounded in a duello, he left 
to return to his own home. But he had not advanced ten 
steps from the portcullis, ere he was detained by the voice 
of Lady Kate close at his side. 

Why, Guilford, you do not well to take your leave so 
quickly or rather no leave at all. You have not given me 
time to thank you.’^ 

I did but fear to irritate your brother more if he saw 
me take leave of thee,” he answered, pressing to his lips 
the hand she placed confidingly in his. 

“You are too guarded, Guilford. You know not how 
proud I have been of you this day and night past. I cannot 
return without expressing my sense of your noble delicacy. 
I appreciate and understand it all. From this time we know 
each other, and you will not mistrust me.” 

“ Mistrust thee. Lady Kate ? ” 

“ Nay, that is not the word exactly. But you will not 
doubt my regard for you ? ” 

“I cannot; you are too kind, when you know, as I now 
do fully, how far beneath you lam.” 

“ Love knows no rank. You are worthy of me, or I should 
never have loved or cared for you. How like you Red 

“ And that noble gentleman and right-hearted patriot was 
the famous sea king I have heard so much of. How difllcult 
it is for me to realize that in the Earl Villiers I saw that 
celebrated captain.” 

“ Do you not like him ?” 

“ It seems to me I could die for him.” 

“ So do all men who know him, my father says—and he is 
not the least of his friends. But how shall I forgive him 
his act of to-night ? ” ^ 

“It was terrible retribution, Lady Kate; but was it not 
deserved?” 


RED HAND. 


77 


“ I cannot deny it. My brother has deeply wronged him; 
and perhaps it is just he himself should endure something 
of the suffering he has inflicted upon him. It was a mercy 
that he spared his life. Now, my noble friend, since we 
must part, tell me frankly where you are to go—what course 
you have marked out for yourself, so that one day you may 
come back and ask my hand of my father; for, as thou hast 
said, thou must achieve something to please him and give 
thee honor. I will wait thy time, true to thee, even to 
death, so that thou comest not in life to claim me as thine.” 

This was spoken with all the truthfulness and sweet confi¬ 
dence of a woman who loves with all her heart. 

“ I have hardly formed a plan, dear Lady Kate. I will by 
to-morrow decide. But my mind is so full of the Earl of 
the Red Hand, that I shall probably decide by going to offer 
him my services.” 

“ That would please me, Guilford. He thinks much of 
you. Though he is now but the head of a small company, 
and commands but a single ship, under good King Charles 
the First he was lord high admiral, and ruled navies by his 
nod.” 

“I will follow his fortunes.” 

“ Thou wilt not be led astray ? The times are ripening, 
my father says, for the throne to have its own again. The 
land is weary of the protectorate and its tyranny. Prince 
Charles has been defeated, it is true, and is now a fugitive, 
either in Scotland or England, at this moment; but if he 
escape over the sea, he will then be the rallying point for 
armies of tens of thousands.” 

“It was rumored yesterday,” said Guilford, “that the 
prince had been seen in Warwick in the disguise of a pack¬ 
man, traveling south. It was also reported that one who 
had known him perfectly, saw the same pack-man in Berk¬ 
shire two days afterwards.” 

“We heard of this; and doubtless the reports are true, and 
the prince is making his way to the south of England, hoping 
to find a passage across to France,” 


78 


RED HAND. 


“ Heaven grant that he may reach France in safety, and 
foil all his foes,” said Guilford, with warmth. “ But Crom¬ 
well is so vigilant, his emissaries are so numerous, his spies 
so vigilant, that every person who cannot give a satisfactory 
account of himself, will be placed under arrest.” 

The lovers had now reached the point in the path down 
the cliff where it became precipitous. Here they stopped, 
and Lady Kate, taking Guilford by the hand, looked him 
earnestly in the eyes and said:— 

“You are going to seek your fortune and win a name. 
But remember, I do not ask either from you, but they are 
your own voluntary wish; and never forget that, if after all, 
you should return unfortunate, and without the success you 
hope for, you will be received by me with the same affection 
with which I now part from you.” 

The lovers now took leave of each other, and Guilford 
hastened down the precipitous path without trusting his 
eyes to look back and take another look of the fair form 
which he knew was lingering to gaze after him. 


RED HAIO). 


79 


CHAPTER XII. 

SURPRISING INTELLIGENCE TO GUILFORD. 

The way by which he now left the castle was not that 
which descended to the beach, where the boats usually were, 
but a path that led northward down the hill towards the 
country-side, and which conducted persons who left the 
castle for the interior, to the main road a mile off. Upon 
reaching the deep glen at the foot of the eminence, Guil¬ 
ford struck into a broader cartway that went in the direction 
of the village. He walked onward, lost in his own thought, 
and thinking upon the chance of the future. He had emerged 
from the little dale, and had the village roofs in sight, when 
the voices of singing and bacchanalian carousing reached his 
ears. He stopped, surprised at what he heard, and then 
hastened forward t© ascertain the cause of such unusual 
sounds. He had gone but a few steps further, however, 
when he saw a man seated by the roadside, groaning in a 
most pitiable way. He approached him, and recognized 
Digby, the well-known village busybody and gossip. 

“Up, man, up I What aileth thee, Digby ? 

“ What, is it thee. Master Guilford ? ” asked the man, 
starting to his feet, and hugging the young fisherman with 
great delight. “lam glad to see thee I ” 

“ What hath happened ? The clothes are torn half off thy 
back, and thou hast blood on thy cheek.” 

“ Marry have I ? Blood shed for the prince. You must 
know that I did but fill a cup in the inn yonder to the Prince 
Charles, when these Cromwell troopers set upon me, and 
would have slain me outright but for Dame Bess, the 
hostess, who took my part, and told them roundly I was but 
a poor innocent, and meant nobody no harm.” 


80 


RED HAND. 


“ What have Cromwell’s troopers to do in the inn ? ” 

“ Cromwell’s troopers ? What, hast thou not heard the 
news? This is a God-send, then, if thou hast not heard 
what I supposed every man, woman and child in the village 
had heard. Why, if there is one trooping Roundhead in 
the port, there are two hundred and fifty of the shaven- 
crowned, psalm-singing rogues.” 

“ What are they doing here ? When did they come ? ” 
asked Guilford, with surprise; for having left the village just 
before their arrival the evening before, he knew nothing of 
the object of this new invasion of the Covenanters, though 
that a party of them were in the town he was aware, from 
their chase of the captain. But he was ignorant of the 
particulars.' 

“ They came galloping in about sundown, and what could 
not find quarters at the inn, dispersed over the hamlet, till 
there is not a house that has not a brace of them to kiss the 
lasses and eat out the larders. As for what they ha’ come 
for, it is to keep watch that Prince Charles don’t find ship¬ 
ping at our little fishing town and get safe over to France.” 

“ This is news, indeed, for our quiet town, Digby. I knew 
some had been here, but supposed they had left. Dost thou 
know whether there are any of these Roundhead rogues at 
our cabin ? ” 

“Marry come up, I verily believe that the two most 
truculent fiends among ’em, the two Goliaths of Gath, are 
making themselves at home there.” 

“ Then I ought to be there at once,” said the young man, 
hurrying forward. 

“ But, be discreet. I would advise thee entreat them 
civilly.” 

“ I shall be discreet, you may rest assured. I shall take 
care not to propose Prince Charles’s health to a brace of 
Covenanters,” he added, laughing. 

“Nay, take me with thee. Bet me keep under the pro¬ 
tection of thy valiancy, good Master Guilford. When I got 
my head broke, I went to thy house first, but the good dame 


RED HAND. 


81 


told me thou hadst taken the way to the castle last; and 
although after midnight I came this way to wait for thy 
coming, and I will not leave thy back while a Roundhead 
varlet hath footing in the town. There is nothing like cour¬ 
age to defend a man against dangers; and if a man have it 
not himself, he must seek it elsewhere; and marry, I know 
thou hast enough for thee and me. Hark I hear the arrant 
hypocrites sing their long-winded Old Testament verses. 
There was one chap of them who had a beard like a lion, 
who did nothing but sing over a chapter of proper names, 
as ‘Moses begat Boaz;’ and by the way he rolled his eyes 
up, one would have fancied he got great grace from the 
employment.” 

Digby went on talking after this fashion, until they came 
to a lane turning towards the water from the main street, on 
which the hamlet was built. At the foot of this lane stood 
his own cottage. At the corner of it he was challenged by a 
trooper mounted on a black horse. 

“ Who goes there ? ” 

“ A fisherman.” 

“ Advance and let me see if thou smellest fishy,” answered 
the man, in a coarse manner. 

Guilford approached him, and taking off his bonnet, boldly 
showed him his face. 

“ Where dost thou live ? ” 

“ There,” he answered, pointing at his house. 

“ And what art thou doing abroad so late, for it is well to 
two o’clock in the morning?” 

“ I have been a-trysting.” 

“ So I guess; but, young man, beware of the lusts of the 
fiesh, and the pride of life, and the allurements of Sathanas. 
And who is that with thee ? ” 

“ A poor wretch whom I take to fish with me at times.” 

“ Let me look at thee closer, thou poor wretch, for a king’s 
eye might hide itself under the shadow of a beggar’s cowl.” 

With this the trooper extended the point of his long sword, 
and catching the cap of Digby upon its end, raised it into 


82 


RED HAND. 


the air. He then made him approach close to his stirrup, 
and looked keenly into his round, pug-nosed, bloated visage. 

“ By the beard of Herod, thou art the prince of ale-pots and 
must have too much dread of water to think of crossing it. 
Thou wilt never cross over to France and drink sour wine 
while thou canst grow lustj on good ale in England. What 
is thy name, Sir Rubicund ? ” 

“ Digby—David Digby, your highness,” answered the 
gossip, with humility. 

“ Thou shouldst be called Balaam,” replied the trooper, 
who, at this moment seeing another person running down 
the street, left Digby and spurred towards him. 

“ By my head, this fellow would as lief eat me unsodden, 
as he would a hare. Master Guilford. Didst mark his teeth ? ” 

Guilford, however, had taken the opportunity to walk on 
towards the gate of his house, and he was about opening it, 
when he perceived two persons seated within it upon a 
little wooden settle, which, of an evening, was a common 
family resort. 

“ It is Guilford I ” exclaimed one of the persons, springing 
up at seeing him. 

“ What, Anne ? Up so late ? It is very near morning.” 

“ I know it, cousin, but—but—one could not sleep with 
two soldiers within; and besides, they have my bed; and 
moreover. Aunt Betsy bade me wait without and watch for 
your return.” 

“ Guilford, you do not know me here in the shadow? ” 

‘‘What, Robin? Is it you?” 

“ I have been keeping thy cousin Anne company, waiting 
for thee. I would not leave her and your mother alone 
during your absence, with two troopers in the house.” 

“You are very kind, Robin. I know not how to thank 
you. But,” he added, smiling, “ I suppose you have not 
been without your sweet reward, from what I saw when I 
interrupted you.” 

Robin colored, and Anne held down her head, both vexed 
and embarrassed. 


RED HAND. 


83 


“ Not the least sign of jealousy does he show,’’ she said 
to herself. “ He does not care for me, nor love me as Robin 
does. I will never let him know I have loved him, since he 
is so cool and indifferent about it.” 

“ Where are these men, Robin? ” asked Guilford. 

“ One is asleep, with his head laid on the table; the other 
is stretched on the bed in boots and sword, and snoring 
away like a swine.” 

“ So much the better. Where is my mother ? ” 

‘‘She is in the back room,” said Anne; “ but I have ”- 

“Have what?” asked Guilford, seeing her hesitate, and 
draw back, after seeming about to make some important 
communication to him. 

“I forget. Nothing.” 

“ You remain here with Anne, Robin, until I return,” said 
Guilford. “ I wish to speak a few words with my mother. 
I have then something I wish to say to you.” 

“ I will stay with Anne with pleasure,” answered Robin. 
“ Now, sweet Anne, what did I tell thee ? Did I not say he 
loved thee only as a cousin ? Thou seest he cared not a 
stiver for my being with thee so many hours of moonlight, 
whereas, if he had loved thee, he would have shown his jeal¬ 
ousy; for beshrew me I suppose I, loving thee as I do, should 
ha’ come home late at night and found thee up with a young 
fellow in a bower, his arm about thy waist, and thy hand in 
his; should I not have taken fire, and had a quarrel with 
thee on the spot ? To be sure. Love would act no other¬ 
wise. He thanks me for keeping thee company as quietly 
as if thou wert his sister, and now marches into the house, 
bidding me keep thee company a little longer. Does this 
look as if he loved thee other than as a cousin, thinkest 
thou ? ” 

“I am satisfied now, Robin?” answered Anne, with 
tears in her eyes. “ I see that he cares nothing for me.” 

“ Then why wilt thou not care for me ? I love thee with 
all my heart I I will try and make thee happy. You will 
never find a truer heart than that I offer thee.” 

0 


84 


RED HAND. 


“ I will be thine, Robin. I know you love me. I will 
think no more of my Cousin Guilford.” 

At hearing this, the happy Robin caught the fair girl to 
his heart, and imprinted upon her lips the seal of betrothal. 
The kiss was strangely echoed, as if a person had thrust his 
finger into his cheek and drawn it out quickly, causing a 
popping sound. Both looked up and beheld Digby. 

“ That’s what I like to see,” he said. “ Nothing like 
loving one another. Well, I’ll let the whole village know of 
it to-morrow; and when you are married you must invite 
Digby. You can’t have a wedding without Digby. Nothing 
goes on right without Digby. Where is Master Guilford 
gone. Miss Anne ? ” 

“In the house,” answered the maiden, blushing and 
laughing. “Oh, you eavesdropperl Come hither, Digby. 
If you will say nothing about this, I will give you a silver 
sixpence next Saturday night to drink the prince’s health.” 

“Well, I won’t, blame me if I do,” answered Digby, as 
he stretched upon one of the settles, to sleep. 


KED HAND. 


85 


CHAPTER XIII. 

AN INTERESTING COMMUNICATION. 

Guilford found the door of the cottage ajar, and pushing 
it softly he entered the small, plainly furnished front room. 
A lamp filled with fish-oil burned upon the table, with a 
huge “thief” upon the wick. By its light he saw the two 
troopers. Upon a small truckle-bed in the corner lay one of 
them, sleeping off the potations of negus with which he and 
his comrade had been abundantly plied by the good dame, 
who desired to get them in a state of quiescence as soon as 
possible—a result in which she had admirably succeeded. 
Sleeping heavily, and with a loud, sonorous breathing, the 
other trooper sat by the table, his head among the cups, and 
resting on his thickly-gloved hand. His black beard lay out 
upon the board like a mop, while the light shone upon the 
round, closely-shaven head, giving it the appearance of a 
porcupine rolled up into a ball. By the side of his head lay 
his pistolet, the grasp of his hand holding it loosely, in his 
sleep. The two men reminded Guilford of two wild beasts 
he had once seen crushed and reposing in a cage. 

Having surveyed the scene, he stepped across the thresh¬ 
old and passed lightly into the room. He stood for an 
instant looking at the sallow face of Strait-gate, who lay on 
the bed, and wondering that so wicked a countenance could 
have a soul quiet enough to sleep. As for Broad-way, he 
saw in him one of those half devils, half highwaymen, so 
common in Cromwell’s army, who, with a few scraps of the 
Old Testament on their lips, passed for pious covenanters, 
and under the cloak of religion did all sorts of enormities. 

“Let them sleep; I have no* wish to disturb them,” said 
Guilford, passing on and opening the inner door of his 


66 


RED HAKD. 


mother’s room. “I have already placed one of their 
number in the sleep that knows no waking.” And with 
this recollection of what he had done the evening before, 
came over his mind for the first time the thought that he 
might possibly be recognized by some of the party who had 
been nighest when he shot the soldiers, though it was 
moonlight and not broad day, and no one came within 
twenty yards of him, save the horseman who was drowned 
in trying to swim his horse round the promontory. 

Upon hearing the door open, his mother looked up from 
her needle, and seeing him, uttered an exclamation of joy, 
and going towards him to meet him, made at the same time 
a gesture of silence and warning. 

“ I am so glad you have returned, my dear son,” she said, 
as she led him to a seat. “ You have been gone full eight 
hours.” 

“ It has been an eventful eight hours to me, my dear 
mother.” 

“ I have been trembling lest you should have come into 
collision with Lord Rudolph, at the castle. Did you see the 
Lady Kate, my boy ? ” 

“ Yes, mother, and all is as I would desire. I will tell 
you by and by, when we are alone. Those men in the other 
room must have annoyed you not a little.” 

“ They did at first, but they soon drank themselves to 
insensibility. But where is Anne, that she did not come in 
with you? ” 

“ She is at the gate with Robin.” 

“ Yes. He loves her, and I wish she could return his 
attachment. She had best come in, now you are at home; 
but I sent her out, as the soldiers got to be something rude 
of speech towards her.” 

“ They had best keep their tongues under civility,” an¬ 
swered Guilford, “ or I will show them that there are men in 
England besides Cromwell’s myrmidons.” 

“Hist, GuilfordI They will hear you. As it is, they do 
not suspect us of being opposed to the government. But 


RED HAIST), 


87 


listen to me; I have something of moment to communicate 
to thee; and for this I have been so anxious to have thee 
come back.” 

“ But first hear what will please you, my mother. My 
interview with Lady Kate resulted in her refusal to permit 
me to cease to think of her, and it is decided that I am to 
seek my fortune in the world, and some bright day come 
back to ask her hand.” 

“ Ah, my boy, fortune is fickle. But the Lady Catharine 
shows a truly noble nature.” 

“ I have no doubt that I shall be able to win some name 
that will make me less obscure, and more worthy to ask her 
hand of her noble father. Would she wed me to-morrow, I 
am too proud to become her husband as I am—a poor young 
fisherman. I will win rank and name, and lay them at her 
feet. Because she loves me in my humble state, shall I 
willingly consent that she shall wed one so lowly ? Shall I 
thus reward her generous love ? ” 

“Thou art noble in mind, my boy,” said his mother, 
“ and deservest her.” 

“ Mother, thou hast heard of Red Hand?” 

“Oh, Red Hand, the noted sea warrior, whose very name 
strikes such terror along the coast I What of him, Guilford ? ” 

“ Dost thou know his history ? ” 

“Kay, I do recollect that it is said he was one of King 
Charles’s nobles, and that, when he was to have been 
executed, he placed his hand beneath the axe instead of his 
head, and with the other wrenched the weapon from the 
headsman’s grasp, and with it cut his way to the water-side 
and escaped in a ship.” 

“ This is partly true.” 

“ I know Cromwell has offered a reward for his head, and 
therefore ”- 

“ You fancy he must be a pirate.” 

“ 1 know not what he is. Men say he is greatly to be 
feared. He has burned full a score of castles and towns on 
the coast.” 


88 


RED HAND. 


“ These were those places in which Cromwell’s minions 
dwelt—places which, by falsehood and wrong, they had 
robbed loyal nobles. I have seen this sea-king, and spoken 
with him, mother.” 

“ Spoken with Red Hand ? ” 

“Yes; I have been on board his vessel, which to-night 
was not two leagues from the land, opposite the village. He 
is a proper gentleman. He is the Earl of Villiers, a true¬ 
hearted nobleman, and friend of both the late king and 
Prince Charles.” 

“ Speak lower, for there are strange ears near us.” 

“The two brutes are asleep, and I pray they may not 
wake till morning. Yes, mother, Earl Yilliers is a true 
Englishman. He commands a ship because he cannot com¬ 
mand a fleet. His wars are made only against the usurper. 
His ship is the only remnant of the +rue British navy, and 
he the only British admiral, as Charles, the wanderer prince, 
is the only British king. But these things will not always 
be so. In a few days I shall, if nothing more favorable 
turns up, offer myself to this admiral of the Red Hand, and 
win fame under his flag.” 

“ If this terrible captain be a true earl, who only seeks the 
rights of his king, I do not say aught against this, Guilford, 
save that I shall be grieved to have thee leave my roof and 
my side. But mothers cannot always hope to have their 
boys with them; and I hope to see you yet distinguish 
yourself.” 

“ You will not be alone, mother. Anne will remain, and 
if she marries Robin ”- 

“ Marries Robin I I wish she would, indeed.” 

“There is little doubt of it from what I saw to-night. 
They are lovers, or lovers never were.” 

“ That is good news. I knew she need never look to you.” 

“ Look to me, motherl Who ? ” 

“Anne. Bless me, how odd you have never seen it in 
her eyes. She has loved you better than cousin ought to 
love, Guilford.” 


RED HAND. 


8?) 


“ I was not aware of it. But now you speak of it, I do 
recollect some things that make me think you are right. 
But Robin will make her far happier. They will marry and 
live with you, and you will hardly miss me. I will have my 
boat repaired to-morrow, and give it to you. Has there been 
any excitement in the village to-night, early in the evening ? 
Have you heard anything about any of the troopers having 
been shot?” 

“Surely I did. Fuss enough was made about it. The 
troopers here heard firing, and went out, and after a long 
time came back, and swore dreadful oaths, and said some 
smugglers had shot three of their party, who were pursuing a 
loyalist. They made great talk of it in their cups, and swore 
dreadfully how they would on the morrow have vengeance.” 

“ Smugglers, they said, did they, mother?” 

“I believe so; but do not raise your voice so loud, for I 
dare say we’ve been overheard in half we’ve said by the poor 
gentleman, if by chance he’s awake.” 

Here the good dame cast her eyes up at the trap in the 
ceiling. 

“ What poor gentleman ? What do you mean, mother ? ” 

“HushI The troopers’ll hear you, and then it’s all up 
with him, be he peasant or prince, gentle or simple. There 
is a man hid up in the hemp-loft,” she added, whispering 
close in his ear, and then clapping her fingers across his 
mouth. “ Hot a word. I fancy he is a loyalist. Don’t speak, 
and I’ll tell you all about it, for I want your advice to know 
what to do with him.” 

“If he is a loyalist, I will aid him to the best of my 
ability, mother. But when and how did he come here ? ” 

“ That I will tell you. You see, after you went out, and 
had been gone a little while, the two soldiers came in and 
invited themselves to take up their quarters for the night. 
After eating their supper and drinking, they got up and went 
out, as they said, to make a search of the premises, to see 
what out-houses, boats, hiding-places and such things, for 
concealing and escaping in we had.” 


DO 


hed hand. 


“ The prying devils! ” 

“ Hist! They had not gone out, scarcely, before I saw a 
face looking in upon me at that window. Before I could 
make out who it might be, the window was raised, and in 
stepped a stranger. He came so lightly to the floor, looked 
so beseechingly and suffering like, and had altogether such 
an appearance of weariness and flight, that I at once felt 
my charity warm towards him kindly; and knowing how 
many good men there are who are wanderers in their own, 
or what is worse, foreign lands, I bethought me this man 
might be one of them. The idea that he was a robber or a 
criminal never once entered my mind. He asked me in a 
voice that was courteous and respectful, if I would conceal 
him before the soldiers came back.” 

“ Then he knew they were quartered here?” said Guil¬ 
ford, who had listened with deepest interest to her words. 

“ Yes, for he had plainly been watching their departure; 
and, as they went out one way, he came in another way, as 
I told you. I instantly closed this door, dropped the curtains, 
that no one might see into the room, and pointing to the 
ladder, told him to conceal himself at once in the loft. He 
obeyed at once, and having given him food and drink, I 
removed the ladder.” 

“ Have you spoken with him since ? ” 

“Not a word. He is as quiet as the grave. I think he 
must be asleep, for he looked ready to drop. You should 
have seen what a white hand he had.” 

“ How old a man is he ? ” 

“ About thirty; but he looked pale and haggard, and 
might not have been so much.” 

“ How was he dressed ? ” 

“ In a sort of grayish black, plain and coarse, and much 
worn and road soiled. His hair was jet black, and so were 
his eyes; and his manners were those of a gentleman; that 
I saw at once.” 

“ I would like to know who he is, mother,” said Guilford, 
who had listened to all she had said with the liveliest 


RED HAKD. 


attention. “ He is without doubt one of the prince’s friends, 
who are hunted like wild beasts throughout the kingdom.” 

“ What if it should be the prince himself ? ” whispered 
the good dame, with a wistful look. 

“It can hardly be; yet it is clear he is expected to seek 
the coast, and should he do so, he is likely to come pretty 
much as this stranger has presented himself to you. Who¬ 
ever he is, he needs our protection, and his life may depend 
on our care and discretion.” 

“ What can be done ? ” 

“ That must be reflected upon, dear mother. It will not 
be safe for him to remain where he is. If a search of the 
house should take place, the loft will not escape their eyes. 
I must, however, first see him and know what he would 
have.” 


02 


Hed hand. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

GUILFORD’S PLAN FOB ESCAPE. 

Thus speaking, Guilford returned into the front room, 
where the two men still slept heavily as before, and in the 
same postures. He then looked out of the door, and seeing 
Robin and Anne seated beneath the arbor, quite oblivious, 
apparently, of the passing time, he softly regained the room 
where his mother was, and bolted the door which led 
between the two apartments. 

“ How, my dear mother, I want you to take a seat against 
this door, and if the soldiers either of them should wake and 
attempt to come in, tell them that it is your private room, 
and they cannot be admitted. On no account suffer them to 
enter; and if they force the door, 1 will shoot them down. 
I am going to have an interview with this stranger, whose 
misfortunes have driven him for shelter to our roof.” 

Thereupon Guilford replaced the ladder to its usual place 
beneath the trap-door, and ascended it. He tapped lightly 
upon the ceiling, and was answered by another rap, equally 
low. 

“ Are you asleep, sir? ” asked Guilford. 

“Ho,” answered the voice; and the trap was cautiously 
raised. “ I know you are come to me as a friend, for 1 have 
overheard your conversation with your mother. I therefore 
let you up without suspicion. I am inexpressibly thankful 
to find myself in the house of two such loyal friends as I 
find you and the good dame are.” 

The words were spoken in an undertone, but with a 
cadence that pleased Guilford’s ear, and attracted him at 
once to the stranger before beholding his face. Asking his 
mother for a light, he ascended with it, and bidding her 


RED HAND. 


93 


remove the ladder, he closed the trap and stood face to face 
with his guest. 

The countenance he beheld was wholly unknown to him, 
but answered to his mother’s description as that of a pale, 
harassed-looking young cavalier of thirty, with black hair 
and eyes, and an intellectual expression. 

“ Whosoever you may be, sir, you are a welcome guest 
beneath our humble roof,” said Guilford. “ What can I do 
for you—for I presume you are one of the prince’s friends ? ” 

“Yes, my dear young man, and I have sought the coast 
with the forlorn hope of obtaining passage in some fishing- 
boat to the Frepch coast. But I find that the coast is vigi¬ 
lantly guarded, and in this very house are quartered some 
of Cromwell’s troopers.” 

“Yes, two drunken rogues, shaven like monks and bearded 
like Turks, are now sleeping off their potations in the room 
below.” 

“ This would be a favorite time to elude them if a boat 
could be had. Art thou not a fisherman ? ” 

“ Yes, sir cavalier, but my only boat was to-day, or rather 
yesterday, stoven, and is not fit to push off.” 

“ I will give thee all the gold I have, which is one hundred 
louis, to purchase another for me.” 

“ Thou wilt need all thy gold, sir cavalier. I can obtain 
another boat of a comrade, but ”- 

“ But what, my young friend ? ” asked the stranger, who 
seemed to hang on his words with nervous fear. 

“ The difiSculty is to get off from the coast unseen. There 
are not only troops placed in our houses, but they are posted 
as sentries along the streets, and have the beach in full view 
for miles. It would be almost impossible to get a boat off 
with any chance of success.” 

The stranger clasped his hands together with an expres¬ 
sion of anguish. 

“ So near liberty and yet not to be able to obtain iti ” 

“ Does thy life pay the forfeit, sir, of thy capture ? ” asked 
Guilford, whose heart was deeply moved by his distress. 


94 


RED HAND. 


“ Assuredly, my friend.” 

‘‘ And thou art a true friend of the prince ? ” 

“ He has none nearer.” 

“ Then I will save thee if it be possible, by aiding thee to 
reach the French coast. But the prince, where is he ? Hast 
thou any tidings of him since he was seen last in Scotland ? ” 

“ He still wanders. Like me he seeks to find shelter in 
France. Suppose I were the Prince Charles himself, what 
couldst thou do for me, if I told thee I was in thy hands ? ” 

“ 1 would save thee or perishi ” answered Guilford; “ and 
I will do all I can for one who loves him and suffers for 
him. Here it is not safe for thee to remain till morning.” 

“ Young man,” said the stranger, “ if thou savest me, the 
prince will not fail to reward thee.” 

“ I ask no reward, sir cavalier, save success. I will go 
and see how I can best secure your safety.” 

With these words Guilford took leave of his guest, deeply 
interested in him, and opening the trap-door, dropped lightly 
to the fioor. 

‘‘ Mother, he is a cavalier, and friend of the prince, and 
his life is forfeit if he be taken. He brings no other news 
of Prince Charles than that he is a wanderer like himself. 
Now I must get him out from here, and to the sea-side. I 
have resolved to try and get him across the channel.” 

“ You will risk your own life, my son.” 

“ Do not think of me, mother. I shall do nothing rashly. 
Give me thy brown long gown, and shawl, and hood.” 

“ Here they are. What wouldst thou with them? ” 

‘‘ To hand them up to our guest to put on.” 

Guilford suited the action to the word, by rolling the arti¬ 
cles in a bundle and passing them up to the fugitive. 

“ Put these on and wait till I knock thrice on the trap, and 
then come boldly down. Now, mother,” he added, as the 
trap-door was once more closed, and the ladder carefully 
removed, “ I want you to put on your other shawl and hood 
and walk out with me.” 

“Whither?” 


RED HAND. 


95 


It matters not, dear mother. Do not ask me questions 
that I perhaps can’t answer; but if you will kindly do as I 
say, we may save the young cavalier.” 

‘‘ I will be guided by you in everything, my son,” said 
she, putting on her shawl and hood. 

“ That is right, mother. These barbarians of Cromwell’s 
are still snoring. They sleep sound as moles.” 

“ I drugged their negus to make them sleep and keep them 
quiet,” answered his mother. 

“ That accounts for it. It is the more favorable to us. 
Now take my arm and come with me.” 

The good dame placed her arm in his, and crossing noise¬ 
lessly the room where the troopers were, they went out by 
the gate of the cottage. Here they met with Robin and 
Anne, who hardly realized how the night they had so lovingly 
passed was wearing towards morning. They both started 
consciously as they saw Dame Graham and Guilford. 

“ You’ve come at last, Guilford,” said Robin, not knowing 
anything else to say. 

“ Yes; and I warrant me you were not over weary waiting 
for me. I want you, Robin.” 

Anne, you had best go softly in and remain in the back 
room; if the troopers should wake up, you can bolt the door.” 

“ Let Anne wait here by the gate, mother. You will not 
be away five minutes. Robin, go to your boat; place secretly 
three days’ provisions in it, and put off as expeditiously as 
you can, as if on a fishing cruise. Soon as you get out half 
a mile, lower your sails and row back in the direction of the 
beach rock, landing beyond it on the castle side. There 
you will find me to take on board. Do not delay, and be 
discreet and cautious; for the least imprudence will create 
suspicion among the coast guard.” 

Robin signified his readiness to do as his friend Guilford 
had directed, and immediately left the cottage gate and 
walked towards his own cabin, a quarter of a mile further 
east, along the shore-curved street of the little port. He was 
stopped by two troopers, who, satisfying themselves that he 


C6 


RED HAND. 


was a fisherman, and not a prince in disguise, let him pass. 
At the door of his own hut he found three of the guard seated 
drinking ale and eating rolls and dried fish. He adroitly got 
them into conversation upon the comparative speed of boats 
and horses, and drew them down to the cove, fifty paces off, 
where his own smack lay, and got them to examining it, he 
the while decanting upon its speed. He then proposed to 
show them with what rapidity he could row it, saying, “ As 
it is near day, it is time I should get ready to go out to fish; 
but first I will show you her mettle.” 

He then went in for his oars, and at the same time filled 
a bag with fish and bread, and took a breaker of fresh water 
with him. These he placed in the boat before their eyes, 
trusting to their absence of all suspicion that he had any 
second purpose in view. At length, having got all prepared, 
he loosed his boat and got to his oars, and was about to row 
her out, when a fourth, in the uniform of a sergeant, came up 
and demanded what boat was putting off. 

“ A fisher’s lad going off to cruise the day in the channel 
catching fish,” answered a trooper; “ and he has bet a hun¬ 
dred mackerel that his boat, with two oars, can beat the 
best hunter in England.” 

“He is a braggart,” answered the sergeant. “ Hut who 
has been in the boat and seen that there is no Prince Charley 
hidden in the cuddie ? By the beard of Cromwell, it would 
hide two men I ” 

The boat was detained and the cuddie carefully examined, 
when, as nothing was discovered like a refugee, and Robin 
being clearly the only person on board, he was suffered to 
put off. His bungling rowing to and fro, however, as he 
knew it would be, was laughed at by the soldiers, and having 
acknowledged that his craft was not in trim, he hoisted sail, 
and told them that when he had caught the hundred 
mackerel, he would not fail to pay his bet. He was soon 
rapidly leaving the shore behind, and the forms of the sol¬ 
diers soon blended with the indistinct objects on the land. 
Wheji he had gained half a mile from the beach, he lowered 


EED HAND. 


G7 


his two sails, and taking to his oars, pulled towards the 
point nearly a mile westerly, where Guilford had promised 
to be found. 

We now return to the young fisherman who was so gener¬ 
ously about to attempt to save his guest from the power of 
the usurper. When Robin took leave of him to go on the 
mission we have seen him accomplish so successfully, 
Guilford, with his mother leaning on his arm, walked along 
the village street in the direction which led towards the 
castle. They soon came to two troopers, who were standing 
in the street acting as guards. The moonlight shone fuM 
upon them, and in one of them Guilford recognized the 
soldier who had before challenged him. As the young man 
and his mother drew near, one of the men stepped across 
the way and presented his sword. 

“ What, pray, is this, my fine couple ? ” he said. 

“ This is my mother, and as for me, I told you who I was 
some while ago,” answered Guilford, firmly. 

“Yes, I recollect thee now; but we must see'thy face. 
We must not let any nose pass us under cover. A woman’s 
hood, before now, has hid a man’s beard.” 

Dame Graham put back her hood and showed him a dig¬ 
nified, but pale, matronly face, that abashed his insolence. 

“ Pardon us, ma’am; but we must be strict.” 

“ Can we pass on ? ” asked Guilford. 

“ Whither ? ” 

“ To the castle. There is a sick person there who suffers, 
and your orders are not so strict as to prevent passing to and 
fro on the land.” 

it 1 ^ 0 —it is the sea we are to watch.” 

Guilford then went on a few steps, and when beyond 
ear-shot, he said quickly to his mother:— 

“ Pretend that thou hast forgotten the lint, and go back 
as for it; but instead of coming back thyself, send the guest, 
telling him I wait here, and that he must join me and take 
my arm without a word, in your place. They will not a 
second time lift the veil.” 7 


m 


RED HAND. 


** I now understand all,” said his mother. 

“ Sir soldiers, my mother would return a moment to the 
house for something,” he said, returning where the two 
men stood. “ Be quick, dear mother, and I will remain 
talking with these brave soldiers.” 

The good dame hastened towards her house, leaving 
Guilford with the troopers. 


CHAPTER XV. 

SUCCESS OF GUILFORD’S MANCEUVRE. 

“ Thou art a tall youth to be under thy mother’s eye 
still, young man,” said the trooper who had been chief 
spokesman. “ Fishing must be fool’s pastime for a brave 
spirit, as thine should be by thine eye. Why wilt thou not 
enlist in the troop, and follow the fortunes of a soldier? ” 

“ My mother has only me, and if I should fall in battle she 
would be desolate.” 

“We should be better weaned than to think of mothers 
when our beards are grown, young fellow. A man’s mother 
is his country, and he rightly obeys her when he takes up 
arras to defend her against tyranny.” A pause. 

“ Come to the inn in the morn, where our captain is, and 
thou shalt put thy name down and be paid two gold nobles, 
and the horse and armor of the man who was shot early 
tomight, by one of the smugglers, shall be thine.” 

“ I will see thy captain, it may be, and think of this. I 
would rather have a wider field than this to act my part in.” 



RED HAND. 


99 


“ Ay, that thou oughtest, man. To-morrow we are going 
on a fancy party to ferret out these smugglers or what not 
that rescued the loyalist last night, and shot that ‘ lion of the 
desert,’ even the brave trooper ‘ Despise not Prophesyings.’ ” 

“ What loyalist ? ” 

“That is not known for certain. That he was one, is 
clear, for he refused to drink to Oliver’s health; and he 
fought like a tiger when he was set upon, and ran like a 
dromedary when he could fight no longer against odds. We 
would have had him had he not been rescued by a party of 
smugglers, as some say they were, who got him off safe. 
Our captain swears he was the famed Red Hand, the channel 
cruiser, because his right hand was missing. But, for my 
part, the blood of one royalist is as red as that of another.” 

“ Dost thou expect to find smugglers on the coast 
to-morrow?” asked Guilford, whose eyes were anxiously 
turned towards the gate of the cottage. 

“ That may be as it turns out. A little brush with the 
rogues and a good deal of booty would enliven these dull 
times.” 

At this moment Guilford’s eyes were gladdened by the 
sight of a female figure, clad like his mother, issuing from 
the cottage gate. He knew at a glance that it was not she, 
and his heart bounded with hope and fear in contemplating 
the advance of the disguised royalist. The walk was wholly 
unlike that of his mother, and by no means as graceful; but 
he hoped the soldiers would not mark the difference. 

“ Good-night, gentlemen; I see my mother has got what 
she went after, and is returning,” said Guilford, walking 
forward to meet the disguised guest. 

“ You will not forget the gold nobles and to see the 
captain at the inn ? ” called one of the soldiers. 

“ No. I hope to meet you there also.” 

By this time he met the loyalist, and, taking his arm 
beneath his own, whispered:— 

“ Walk more softly, and keep hooded. There is uo 
danger if you do not speak.” 

7 


100 


RED HAND, 


It was a thrilling moment when Guilford came up again to 
the men in order to pass them. He was, however, perfectly 
cool and self-possessed. 

“ We must stop again, mother, for doubtless these brave 
soldiers will have to make thee show thy face a second time, 
to see that no beard hath grown on it within the last five 
minutes.” 

‘‘ Nay, young fellow, thou and thy mother may pass when 
thou wilt,” answered the nearest soldier laughingly. “ When 
thou gettest to be a trooper, thou wilt then learn to obey 
orders.” 

“ I blame thee not, sir trooper,” answered Guilford, as he 
walked on slowly, in order to keep at feminine moderation 
the tendency of his companion to make rapid strides. At 
every yard which separated him from the two soldiers, his 
heart beat lighter and his breath drew freer. At length, 
after walking on about five minutes, and when he could 
scarcely distinguish the forms of the two men from the 
black posts to which the fishermen secured their boats, he 
said, in a tone of joy:— .. 

“Now, sir cavalier, thou mayest speak. We are safe, at 
least for the present. Thou canst look out of thy hood.” 

The cavalier, whom Dame Graham had so promptly and 
skillfully put in her own place, then threw partly back his 
hood, and looked around him, but not before pressing the 
young fisherman’s hand in both of his, and saying:— 

“Heaven reward thee I Thou hast done this well and 
faithfully, and with remarkable courage. I was never in 
more imminent peril of capture, and yet, under thy manag¬ 
ing guidance, with so little reason to fear. What lofty castle 
is this ? ” he asked, as his eye fell upon the elevated towers 
and battlements of Castle Yane, beneath the shadow of 
which he was walking. 

“ It is Castle Vane.” 

“Well do I know the family. Never was a more loyal 
subject than Lord Vane. But rumor says his son is 
Cromwell’s tool,” 


tCEiT> 


lOi 


“ “yes, so I have heard,” answered Guilford, whose glances 
were continually scanning the water, searching for Robin’s 
little bark, which yet did not appear in sight. 

The cavalier also turned his eyes wistfully on the sparkling 
waves, and paused to contemplate them for a moment. 

“Oh, road to liberty I—^yet a more insurmountable walk 
than if thou were built of adamant, high as heaven I ” 

“Do not stop, my lord. We must still hasten forward; 
for though the last guard of troopers has been passed in this 
direction, yet our stratagem may be detected, and pursuit 
made.” 

“ I need no inducements to move on, my true and faithful 
deliverer,” answered the royalist; “but I am something 
wearied, having walked for many days and laid abroad of 
nights, and had little food.” 

“ I pity thy distresses, sir.” 

“I hope fortune will one day enable me to reward thee,” 
answered the stranger, with a grateful tremor in his tones. 
“ But I am solicitous lest harm should happen to thy mother 
for the part she hath taken.” 

“No; it was known to no one that you were in the house; 
and I instructed her not to suffer herself to be seen until 
after sunrise, lest indeed, by chance, the two troopers should 
question her how she got back unseen, and so place her in 
a dangerous position.” 

“ That was judicious and thoughtful in you. I will there¬ 
fore not suffer my fears to be awakened about her. But 
when I know that upon whomsoever aids me I am bringing 
danger, I sometimes feel like giving myself up to my fate 
before I will involve any more kind and noble heats in 
assisting me to escape. We have here a barrier. How shall 
we surmount it ? ” he suddenly demanded, upon finding the 
beach terminate. 

“ Here is a boat, my lord,” said Guilford, who gave the 
stranger the title of respect, judging from his manner, and 
that he was a partizan of the prince, that he must be noble; 
“ we will enter it and row around it.” 


102 


HeI) hand. 


Upon their reaching the other side, Guilford, with an 
exclamation of pleasure, pointed seaward. 

“ A boatl Oh, that I were so happy as to be on board of 
it, with its head pointed towards France! ” was the exclama¬ 
tion of the wanderer, with clasped hands. 

“ I think it is the boat I ordered to come round and meet 
us here,” answered Guilford. “ When it gets a little nearer, 
I can tell.” 

“ And you have perfected your plan so far as to provide a 
boat! Ah! this is more than I hoped! When I saw this 
cliff, I believed you were seeking some secret cavern wherein 
to conceal me; and my heart was heavy with the thought of 
more delay and confinement and anxiety before I should 
kiss the blessed sands of France.” 

“ It is Kobin’s boat. I know it now by the white tops to 
its masts.” 

“ And is Robin’s boat that you sent for to embark us in ? ” 

“ Yes, my lord. Robin is a youth, and supports himself by 
fishing. He is my truest friend, and can be trusted.” 

“ I know it, if he is thy friend. It seems a brave, strong 
boat, with sails.” 

“ It has crossed the channel in the wildest weather, my 
lord.” 

“ Then my hour of safety seems to have come at last. 
This skiff, which holds but two, and scarce floats for leaking,” 
he added, pointing to the small boat in which they had 
paddled round the rock, “ this I would have ventured in, 
rather than not have attempted it. To die exerting one’s 
self for liberty, is better than to live as I have lived the past 
fifty days. Oh, young man, you know little of the sufferings 
I have endured. But the sight of the bark makes me forget 
all!” 

“ I trust, my lord, that before noon you will be safe where 
you wish to be,” 

“ Thanks, thanks, my friend! I pray that if this blessing 
be granted me, it be given soon to the poor friends and 
wanderers I leave still behind,” 


RED HAND. 


,103 

“ Thou meanest the prince, and the four or five nobles 
who hold to him ? ” 

“ They did hold to him till they were compelled, for Us 
safety, to leave him, and each seek a different route to the 
coast.” 

If, after I safely place thee in France, I can return 
unsuspected, my lord, I will do all in my power to get the 
rest over. In particular would I be happy to be the instru¬ 
ment of saving the prince.” 

“ And wherefore in particular, my young friend? ” asked 
the noble, who was seated on a rock, watching the advancing 
fishing-boat. ° 

“ Frankly, my lord, I will tell thee. Thou didst overhear 
my conversation with my mother, and need not be told that 
I love a high-born maiden—even the daughter of the lord of 
this castle.” 

“ And I would swear thou art worthy of her.” 

“ I am too proud to offer her a fisherman for a husband. 
If I could aid the prince, perhaps he would take me into his 
service.” 

“But he is poor, and has not men, nor arms, coffers nor 
coin, young man.” 

“ He will one day, I am confident, sit on the throne of his 
martyred father. He is too deeply seated in the hearts of 
the English people to remain long out of the seat of the 
kingdom.” 

“ By the rood I thou speakest like a prophetl ” exclaimed 
the noble, starting to his feet, and gazing with admiration 
upon the young man. “ I pray that thy words may come 
true. And if the prince come to his own, thou shalt not be 
forgotten. He who has served one of his friends serves 
him. I will take care that thy good service to me this 
night shall not be forgotten. Would that England had ten 
thousand young men with hearts and hands as loyal as 
thine I ” 

At this crisis the little bark drew so close that Guilford 
recognized Robin, who, shipping his oars, steered the boat, 


104 BED HAND. 

with what impetus his rowing had given it, directly alongside 
the rock. 

‘‘ Thou hast done well, Kobin, and in good time; for I see 
the dawn is breaking. Now, my lord, step into the boat, and 
the next land thy foot touches shall be that of France.” 

“ Amen, my friend I ” answered the noble, as he leaped 
into the boat and stood in the stern. “ Farewell, poor 
England I One of these days thou wilt take to thy bosom 
gladly the children that thou now drivest from thee.” 

Guilford saw that tears came into his eyes, and this emotion 
endeared him still more to him; for he saw that he possessed 
all the sensibilities that became a man. He now assisted 
Eobin in hoisting the sails, for there was a six-knot breeze 
from the northwest; and, taking the helm, while Kobin was 
entrusted with the charge of trimming the canvas, he steered 
away from the castle rock and lay his course at first south-by¬ 
west, in order to keep from being seen from the village 
when they should clear the rock. 

When they had got out about fifty yards, and were sailing 
along smoothly, the nobleman was seen by Guilford to sink 
upon his knees and remain some minutes in prayer. He 
then rose, and, embracing his deliverer, he called Eobin, 
and said:— 

“ Let me take thee by the hand. I owe thee much also, 
and must owe thee more before I reach France. I am told 
thou art the friend of this brave young man.” 

“ I love Guilford as a brother,” answered Kobin, with 
honest warmth. 

Suddenly a voice called to them from the shore,—an eager 
but suppressed voice, its tones being doubtful and yet thrill¬ 
ing, as if fear and hope impelled the speaker. 

“ The boat I Art thou fishermen ? ” 

“ Yes,” answered Guilford, as he discerned the figures of 
two men in the mouth of a sort of gorge that was at the 
westward of the castle rock. 

“ Come to the shore and take us on board, and we will pay 
thee well.” 


HED HANt). 


105 


“ I fear that it is a lure,” said Guilford. 

“I think I recognize the voice,” said the stranger. “ Hold I 
Let me speak.” 

“ Nay, my lord, you may betray yourself. I will hail them. 
Who are you, and where do you wish to go ? ” 

“ Land, aud we will tell thee,” answered another. 

“ I know them I ” cried the stranger to Guilford, in earnest 
excitement, laying his hand on his shoulder. “ They are 
two of the prince’s friends. Will you take them ? ” 

“ Willingly. Think you the prince is one of them ? ” 

“We may hear from him through them, my young friend. 
Steer at once to where they stand, for delay may be fatal to 
them with so many enemies about.” 

Guilford at once ran the smack to the little cove in the land 
where two men stood. On coming near, he saw, from their 
torn apparel and haggard air, that they were fugitives. They 
were so impatient to quit the land, that they both sprang 
on board. 

“ Take us across to France, and we will repay you well, 
for we have gold,” they said, talking like men who had life 
at stake. 

The stranger, who still wore the female dress, and who 
had purposely concealed himself behind the sail, was now 
seen by them. They stared at him, and then took their seats 
as if too weary to stand. They then looked earnestly at 
Kobin and Guilford. 

“You are fishermen, then ? ” said the elder of the two. 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ Will you take us over to Normandy ? ” 

“ It is a dangerous trip, sirs, but as I am going over, you 
shall have passage.” 

“ How fortunate 1 We will give you gold.” 

“ I am well paid, gentlemen.” 

“But will you take this woman over ? ” 

“ Yes,” answered Guilford, and would have added, “ she 
is a fugitive disguised also,” but for a pressure upon the arm 
by the stranger, as a hint to keep his secret. 


106 


HEl) HAND. 


CHAPTEK XVI. 

WHO THE FUGITIVE WAS. 

We now see our youthful hero, Guilford, once more 
setting sail for the French side of the channel, with three 
royalists. It has been an eventful twenty-four hours to him, 
and has done more to develop his true character than all the 
previous events of his life. All at once he felt that he had 
merged from the obscure and humble village fisher to be a 
person of no little consideration, if he were to be judged by 
the part he had played. But he was rrot elated. He secretly 
hoped that this turn of his affairs was to lead him on to 
fortune. 

When the smack, which Kobin had named the “ Pretty 
Anne,” had got out a mile, the day had begun to brighten 
up so clearly in the east that the moonlight paled before it. 
Soon the light of the broad morning filled the air, and when 
they were a league from the land the sun rose in dazzling 
splendor out of the waters. Cheerfulness sat upon the 
haggard faces of the two fugitives as they saw receding the 
shores of England, and the distant blue line of France 
grow more distinct. 

“ Young men,” said one of them, whose beard and locks 
were mingled with gray, “ you will be remembered by us to 
the latest hour of our lives. We must take your names, that 
our friends may know them, and love the two fisher’s lads 
who aided us to escape from death to safety.” 

“ I knew, my lord,” said Guilford, “ that fugitive friends 
of the prince were expected on the coast in a short time, 
and knew you to be them.” 

“ Yes, doubtless, for we carry our fortunes in our rags and 
visages. But it is surprising and providential that we should 


UAND. 101 

have found a boat so soon, and one that would receive us. 
Oh, that the prince could be as fortunate I ” 

“ Hast thou heard of any royalist escaping in a boat within 
a day or two ? ” asked the younger cavalier, who was a fair 
young man, with a dark blue eye and a Scottish physiog¬ 
nomy. 

“ There was a brave man escaped yesterday from the 
village after great peril. It was at sunset, or a little after.” 

“ Ah I it must have been the prince,” exclaimed the elder, 
“ for he must have reached the coast about that time.” 

“ Ho, it was the Earl Yilliers, whom they call Ked Hand,” 
answered Guilford. 

“The Earl VilliersI” exclaimed the stranger in a tone 
that, coming from the woman’s hood, made the two cavaliers 
start with surprise, and stare with doubt both at Guilford 
and his disguised passenger. 

“We are betrayed I ” cried the young Scot, with a flashing 
eye, as he drew a long glittering knife. 

“ There is no treason here,” said Guilford. “ This person 
is also a fugitive in disguise, whom I was taking over when 
you hailed me. If he wishes to conceal himself from you, 
I cannot prevent it. But I trust you are well known to 
each other.” 

“There needs no more disguise or concealment, my 
friends all,” exclaimed the stranger, throwing back his hood 
and extending a hand to each of the fugitives. “ Algernon, 
welcome I Catesby, I embrace you again I ” 

“ My prince I ” cried the elderly noble kneeling, and kiss¬ 
ing the hand extended to him, while Catesby pressed his 
knees, and bathed his hands with tears of joy. 

“ Heaven be praised I Once more we meet, and in 
safety!'*'* 

“I would have made myself known to you, my trusty 
friends, but I wished to defer it until landing, that I might 
then take my young friend by surprise, and let him know 
that he had indeed saved Prince Charles I This is a happy 
meeting for us after all our sufferings together.” 


10^ 


tCEt) HAi^b. 


“ Too much joyl too much joyl That we should find thee 
in the very boat in which we have taken shelter I This day 
Cromwell’s hatred has forever lost its victim.” 

Guilford had witnessed this revelation of the prince to his 
partners in danger and flight, with amazement. He stood 
beholding him without power to utter a word. A half-formed 
idea that all his hopes were now in the budding, and that 
Lady Kate would yet be his, danced bewilderingly through 
his mind. Eobin stood with open mouth, in wonder and 
delight. 

“Nay, my friends,” said Prince Charles, “you must not 
be shut out from being partakers of all this joy. You have, 
you find, had your wish gratified, and have ‘ the prince ’ in 
your boat.” 

“ And I will save thee or die, my prince I ” exclaimed Guil¬ 
ford, kneeling, and kissing his hand. “ This is the happiest 
and proudest moment of my life.” 

Eobin also came forward and saluted the excited monarch, 
and all was joy and intense excitement. 

While the little vessel, with its precious freight, was 
dancing on its way, Guilford directed Eobin to bring up 
the provisions from the cuddie, and the prince and his two 
lords made a royal feast of it, with such appetites as long 
fasting invariably lends to both king and peasant. 

The sun was an hour high when they had all got through 
their morning’s repast, and then Guilford urged the prince 
to take some repose in one of the berths of the small cabin. 

“This is well proposed, my young friend,” he said, “ for I 
have had little sleep for the week past.” 

Leaving the helm in charge of Eobin, Guilford went into 
the cuddie and arranged as well as he could the cot of dry 
sea-weed for the prince, and when he would have apologized 
for its roughness, the latter said, cheerfully:— 

“Do not say one word, my dear Guilford, for I have 
learned to sleep as hard as the poorest of my subjects. I 
am used to rough fare and rough lodgings. But keep good 
watch, and do not let any large vessel come too near us..” 


RED HAND. 


100 


Guilford, having seen Prince Charles lie down to rest, 
returned to the deck. The faces of the two exiles beamed 
upon him with grateful smiles as he re-appeared. 

“ You are the happiest and most to be envied Englishman 
that this day lives, young man,” said Lord Algernon, smil- 
ing; “for you have under your charge the prince on whose 
safety depends the fate of England.” 

“ I am happier than I can express,” answered Guilford, 
resuming the helm, while he gave an order to Robin to trim 
the sheets. “As we are now a full third of the way across 
the channel, my lords,” he added, “ will you say what part 
of the French coast the prince would like to be landed on ? ” 

“ To the east of Cape de la Hague, and as near the Cher¬ 
bourg landing as may be,” answered the Scottish lord. 
“We have friends there in waiting for many weeks.” 

“The wind is not exactly fair for making Cherbourg,” 
answered Guilford, looking at the sails and then at the sky; 
“but, by tacking and running west-by-north four or five 
miles, we can then go about and make it towards night.” 

“ Is there no danger that we shall be interfered with by 
the channel ships-of-war that are hovering on the coast to 
watch against the prince’s escape ? ” asked the gray-bearded 
earl, with some solicitude, as he cast his eyes about him and 
saw four or five sails of vessels at various distances, some of 
them between them and the distant line of the coast of 
France, and one directly astern, as if in chase. 

“ Are there ships cruising on the watch, my lords ? ” asked 
Guilford, changing color. “I did not imagine danger save 
from the coast and on shore.” 

“ There is great danger yet,” answered both noblemen. 
“ An order has been sent to all the captains of the vessels- 
of-war to be vigilant in bringing to and examining every boat 
that crosses the channel.” 

“ I did not know of this,” answered Guilford. 

lie then stood up in the stern of the fishing-vessel, which, 
being but five tons burthen, did not elevate him but three 
or four feet above the level of tlie sea,, and with a keep 


110 


RED HAND. 


nautical eye scanned carefully the encircling horizon, 
commencing north and returning to the same point. 

“ What do you make out these vessels to be ? asked Lord 
Algernon Dudley, the old noble, trusting to the skill of the 
young sailor in matters of which he himself had little 
experience. 

“ The vessel astern, my lords, is a ship that has just come 
out of Portsmouth. I saw her an hour ago, between the 
Isle of Wight and the main, standing down. She is a Nor¬ 
wegian trader by the shortness of her yards and square make 
of her bows.” 

“ You observe closely,” said the young Scottish lord. 

“ Yes; we fishermen, passing our lives on the channel, and 
accustomed to the sight of vessels of all nations, soon discern 
the difference between those of one country and another, 
and are able to tell them a long way off.” 

“ Yes, I can understand it,” said Lord Catesby; “for in 
the highlands the shepherds on the hills can often tell men of 
different clans at a distance long before they can distinguish 
the plaid of their tartans. What vessel is that to the west ? 
It looks large, like an armed ship.” 

“It is a ship-of-war of large size,” answered Guilford; 
“ but she is standing northward, and is bound to Portsmouth. 
She will hardly trouble us.” 

“ Then this vessel at the east, which seems to be standing 
directly down to us ? ” 

“ That I am more doubtful about. She is too far off to be 
well made out, and as her masts range in a line, I can’t tell 
whether she is a ship or brig. But, from the squareness of 
her yards and the way she settles in the water, I am afraid 
she is an armed cruiser.” 

At these words the two nobles looked very naturally 
anxious, and watched her with close attention. There were 
two other vessels visible in the far south-western board, 
but at too remote a distance to be made anything of, save 
that Guilford was positive they were large three-masted 
vessels. 


RED HAND. 


Ill 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A DESPEBATE STKATAQEM FOILED. 

Leaviitg the little fishing smack, which held the destinies 
of England, to dance along over the waves of the channel on 
its way to the coast of Normandy, we will follow the adven¬ 
tures of another one of the characters of our story. 

When Red Hand the earl had regained his own ship, and, 
after the severe execution of the sentence upon Lord 
Rudolph, had dismissed the yacht, he gave orders to his 
lieutenant in command to steer westward until sunrise, and 
then call him. 

“ I have not had one hour’s sleep since I left London,” 
he added to the officer in charge, “ and I must have a little 
rest.” 

He then went to his state-room, where he found Edward, 
the useful and handsome officer already introduced to the 
reader, engaged in copying papers. Upon the entrance of 
the earl, the youth looked up and fixed upon the earl his 
large dark eye, which had as much light in it as a woman’s, 
and said:— 

“ My lord, I know not how to contain my joy at your safe 
return once more to the ship, knowing, as I alone did, the 
perilous errand on which you went.” 

“ I had a narrow escape of it more than once, Edward,” 
answered the earl, throwing himself upon a cushioned settee. 

‘‘ And what success, my lord ? ” asked the youth, in a tone 
that slightly hesitated, as if he feared he ventured too far to 
make so open an inquiry. 

Cromwell’s head is still on his shoulders, and he is free 
to ride on England’s neck till a more lucky day for us. 
Would you like to hear the particulars ? ” 


112 


RED HAKD. 


“Yes, my lord. I will first copy these two remaining 
lines of the letter you have written to the Duke of Orleans, 
to be left at Cherbourg.” 

The youthful secretary than busied himself a minute till 
he had completed the task allotted to him, and then placing 
his pen by his side on the polished Bragiban table, placed 
himself in an attitude of listening. This young man, whose 
beauty, as we have said, was almost feminine, was about 
twenty years of age, slight in figure, but tall, and grace¬ 
fully made. A brown mustache was just beginning to 
darken his well cut upper lip, and his rich and shining 
brown locks curled short about his circular, snow-white 
neck. His brows were also brown or hazel color, like his 
hair, and exquisitely arched over a pair of large eyes of the 
clearest gray. His nose was Persian, straight, and with thin 
nostrils—generally a mark of high birth. When he spoke, 
rows of even teeth, as dewy and translucent as pearls, were 
visible. His hands were as symmetrical as nature could 
have moulded them, and his whole air and tone were striking 
and distinguished. There was an expression of sadness 
upon his face that seemed to be abiding, and to derive itself 
from a source deeply hidden in his heart. W^ith all his 
beauty, there was a total absence of consciousness of it, and 
with all his womanly elegance there was no lack of the proud 
and manly bearing of his sex. Between him and the earl 
there appeared to exist a friendship equal and confidential, 
and which seemed to take no count of the difference in their 
years. The attire of the young secretary was a suit of black 
velvet, with here and there a plain gold button, and a silver- 
hilted sword, worn in a polished Arabian belt at his side. 

“ The night on which I landed at Hastings,” said Red 
Hand, “ twenty days ago to-day, I found the three men ready 
with horses to take me to London. I was nearly two days 
reaching the city, not wishing to ride too fast, lest I should 
draw attention. 1 wore my disguise as a Puritan conventicle 
preacher, and had much honor paid me at several times by 
Cromwell’s people. At length, safe in London, I put up at 


Escape of the F'ugitive from England.—page 100 








































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RED HAND. 


113 


the house in the Strand where Lord Layton and Germain 
were lodged. They received me warmly, and asked where I 
had left my ship. I told them that I had left my vessel off 
Hastings, but that, by my orders, she was to run to the coast 
of France and hover about Germany until the twentieth, 
when she was to stand over the Sussex side and wait my 
orders, or take me on board, as you have done.” 

“ You have read the report of our cruise, my lord, during 
your three weeks’ absence ? ” observed the young lieutenant. 

“ Yes, I have looked it over, and find you have had too 
many handsome fights with Cromwell’s vessels; but one of 
these 1 heard of before 1 left London, and I assure you it 
made me proud of my gallant friends on board, and my 
noble vessel. One would have thought by the way the 
Londoners talked about your sinking the parliament ship 
Nestor, that I had been a Moorish buccaneer, and lived by 
pirating on the world. But Cromwell would have all true 
loyalists branded as pirates and robbers. There are no 
honest men in England nowadays but those who have 
cropped crowns and pray by the league. But to my story. 
After I had been a week in London we had all our plans 
laid. Under the disguise of a coal heaver, I had more than 
once stood within ten feet of Cromwell, as he passed through 
the palace yard, where I was heaving coal, having managed 
to get employed there for this purpose. Under the disguise 
of a baker, I entered the palace, and, as a postman, I placed 
letters in his very hand. All these opportunities I sought 
to see him and learn his habits and hours, that we might 
know what day and hour to fix upon our plan for carrying 
him off. At length I discovered that every Tuesday and 
Saturday it was his custom to embark on the Thames to sail 

up to-palace, there to be present at a council which he 

had convoked for the purpose of settling upon a new code 
of justice for the commonwealth, it being his intention to 
adopt the Justinian code, if possible, over the common 
law. We resolved that we would have everything ready 
to lay hands upon him when he should return from one 


114 


RED HAND. 


of these excursions, which we ascertained would be towards 
twilight. 

“ I had already obtained a swift barge with two masts and 
eight oars, and had placed over her a deck that would conceal 
twelve men. This barge we had placed under a warehouse 
that belonged to a trusty loyalist. The eight oarsmen were 
selected by me from a score of the young nobles who are 
living in London in disguise and poverty, ready to enter upon 
any enterprise that may bring back the king, by destroying 
the usurper. The twelve men concealed in the deck were 
all born lords and barons, half Scotch and half English.” 

“ Each equally anxious to share the peril and the glory 1 ” 

“ Yes. At length the afternoon, four days ago, arrived. 
One by one, by different routes, the lords and gentlemen 
reached the rendezvous, entered the boat and concealed 
themselves, with arms in their hands, under the deck. I 
was the last person there, and went accompanied by the 
French lieutenant, whose ship was waiting off the mouth of 
the Thames to receive us. At four o’clock I saw the pro¬ 
tector embark in his state barge, rowed by twelve men. He 
sat in the stern, surrounded by six or seven of his court, for 
he holds court and carries state like a crowned king. In the 
bow were eight soldiers of his body guard, armed with harque¬ 
buses. At about half an hour before sun-down I saw his 
barge half a mile off, descending the river. It was returning 
earlier than we expected, but on consulting with the lords 
we decided to attack it in open sunshine, and trust to the 
swiftness of our barge to escape down the river with our 
prize.” 

“ It was a very bold enterprise, my lord.” 

“ One must do a bold thing who would attempt to make 
Cromwell a prisoner. Standing upon the pier, I watched the 
descending barge until it had come nearly opposite my 
lurking place, when, lowering myself into my boat, I 
said:— 

“ ‘ My friends, now is our time I Oars, all give way and 
launch out into the river,’ 


RED HAND. 


116 


‘‘ The next moment we shot out from beneath the arch of 
the old pier, and steered with foaming bow and leaping oars 
straight for the state galley. The helmsman of it, seeing 
us about to cross his bows, hailed us and ordered me to back 
the oars I But not heeding him, I directed my boat’s bows 
obliquely, so as to strike the barge about half way between 
her beam and cutwater. The shock, as I ground along her 
sides, mowing down the whole bank of oars, was so great 
as to stave in the bows of the galley and break the forward 
knees of my own boats. 

“ ‘ To arms and board! ’ I shouted, in a voice of thunder. 

“ The next moment my deck was alive with armed men, 
who leaped into the galley and swept her forecastle. Sword 
in hand, I pressed aft, with Lords McDonald and McFergus, 
to where Cromwell stood, calling upon his soldiers to rally 
and fire upon us. His own sword was in his hand, and as I 
approached, he threw himself into an attitude of a lion at 
bay. . 

“ ‘ You are my prisoner, Oliver Cromwell! ’ said I, leaping 
towards him. ‘ Give up your sword! ’ 

“ ‘ He who would have my sword must take it! ’ he an¬ 
swered, with a firmness that made me respect the man’s 
bravery. 

“ 1 did not wait a second time to be invited, but crossing 
blades with him was on the eve of getting the mastery, for 
I once had his sword entangled in the folds of my coat, 
when his friends, recovering from their panic, fought in his 
defence like good fellows, and his harquebuses did such good 
service that we were finally compelled to retreat to our 
boats, half of us wounded, and abandon the enterprise upon 
which so much time and talent has been expended. I should 
have rallied my party and renewed the attack, but for the 
sight of three barges of troops which I saw pulling to the 
protector’s aid from the shore; so we got off and made the 
best of our way down the river, chased by two of the barges. 
We should inevitably have been taken, if night soon coming 
pn had pot befriended us. Under cover of it W© 


116 


RED HAND. 


among the numerous boats plying up and down the river, and 
landing on the south side of the Thames, about four miles 
below London, we found our way to an inn kept by an old 
king’s man, who gave us cheer and lodging, and bound up 
the wounds of those who had been hurt. Here I remained 
until the next night, when, hearing that Prince Charles had 
certainly been seen in mid-England, making his way in dis¬ 
guise towards the Sussex coast, I resolved to regain my 
vessel and watch to give him succor. Leaving my poor 
lords discomfited, but not in despair, and with a second plot 
fairly hatched out before I left the inn, I took my way across 
the country on foot, for 1 had learned from our host that our 
daring, open attack upon Cromwell had filled all London 
with amazement, and that the protector had given strict 
orders to guard all the roads, and look out especially for Red 
Hand, the pirate earl.” 

“ He knew you then, my lord ? ” 

“ He had reason to know me well. Besides, I shouted 
my war cry, ‘ A VilliersI A VilliersI ’ as we charged him on 
his barge. I had, therefore, to be very cautious in crossing 
from London to the coast, and traveled chiefly in the night; 
and when by day I walked, I kept on the hills far away from 
the roads. At length, last night, I reached the little fishing, 
port of Brighthelmstone, and famished and thirsty, and deem¬ 
ing myself out of reach of all danger in that obscure place, 
I entered the inn to refresh myself. But as I have told 
you, a swarm of Cromwell’s locusts soon came in, and 1 had 
to make my escape the best way I could. To young Guil¬ 
ford Graham I owe my life and present security, and if it is 
ever in my power to serve him, may I lose my other hand if 
I forget to do it.” 

“ What an unfortunate result, my lord, of your well-planned 
scheme to take the usurper,” said Edward Percy. “ If you 
had succeeded. Prince Charles, instead of flying from Eng¬ 
land, would have entered London in triumph.” 

“Yes; but we will bide our time. The young king will 
yet sit in his father’s throne; of this I feel sure.” . 


Mi) 


m 


“ My lord, 1 feel so. There seems to be a seventh sense 
in us which scholars do not take note of in their philoso¬ 
phies. It is that sense of being assured that a certain thing 
yet in the future will come to pass.” 

“ I understand you. It is so.” 

“ When the noble marquis, my father, was led to the 
scaffold, I had a feeling that he would not be executed 
then; and after he was remanded to prison and had his 
second trial, I then felt all the dread certainty that he would 
die. The result verified my sensations.” 

“ The same feeling which you describe I have experienced. 
Even now I can say with a certainty as positive as if I were 
inspired, that Prince Charles will not fall into the hands of 
his foes, but ere long reach Prance in safety. Nay, I have 
a presentiment that it will not be long ere you and I shall 
behold him in security.” 

“ I earnestly pray, my lord, that your wishes may be fully 
realized.” 

“ You mean that my eighth sense may not deceive me,” 
responded the earl, laughing. “ But my dear Edward, I 
have a rare romance to tell thee.” 

“ Ah, my lord I ” 

“ Yes. This young Guilford Graham, with his handsome 
face and fine eyes, has captivated no less a personage than 
the fair Lady Catharine Vane.” 

“ Impossible, my lord I ” 

“ Nothing more true, Edward. And as to its being impos¬ 
sible, there is nothing more possible, when two young hearts 
come together and are found to be of kindred mould. How 
he managed first to win her heart, is to me a mystery; but as 
he lives at the foot of Castle Vane, I doubt not they have 
been thrown together in some way very naturally, and what 
with his reverence for her rank and respectful homage, and 
her admiration of his person, and perhaps gratitude for rustic 
civilities, they got to losing their hearts to each other. But 
be that as it may, they are lovers, and she loves quite as 
enthusiastically as he does.” 


118 


HeD HAITD. 


“ I like the young man—I am grateful to him—I respect 
his courage; but for him to aspire to ”- 

‘‘Tut, tut, my dear Edward I The days of chivalry are 
filled with such real romances of life. An humble lover and 
high-born maiden is the theme of half the ballads.” 

“ That is true, but ”- 

“ I have, however, something to add that will make you 
like the young man’s honor. It would seem he has lately 
awakened to the practical view of his romantic attachment, 
and last night he was on the way to see the lady to release 
her from all love vows, and tell her that he felt that they 
never could be united, holding such opposite positions in 
society. It was on this errand he saw me beset and gave 
me such good aid. And, oddly enough, on board my ship 
he finds the Lady Catharine. They had an interview, which 
I chanced to overhear, which resulted in a refusal on her 
part to listen, like a noble girl as she is, to any such sacrifice 
of his happiness on his part, and to her consenting to wait 
for him until he shall achieve a name and fame that will give 
him some pretensions to sue for her hand.” 

“ And this compact stands ? ” 

“ Yes; and be assured that we shall yet hear of this young 
man in some honorable and daring exploit. He has it in 
him, and he has a prize to win that will nerve his arm and 
carry him to his object through every danger.” 

“ I like him well, my lord. He is certainly deserving of 
her if she loves him.” 

“ I knew you would like him, and therefore I have told 
you this. It is my intention to seek him out at an early day, 
as soon as the prince shall have got safely to France, and 
then give him employment in charge of the vessel and expe¬ 
dition which is planned for another attempt to get possession, 
if possible, of the person of Cromwell.” 

“ I was in hopes, my lord, that in this new expedition I 
should not be overlooked.” 

“ I did promise to give you some opportunity of distin¬ 
guishing yourself, Edward. But you are too useful to me; 


RED HAND. 


119 


I would have you near me; and besides, I wish from Cher¬ 
bourg to send you with a message to St. Lo to my fair 
daughter.” 

■ Here the young secretary blushed and looked pleased. 

“Besides, wilt thou not, for love’s sake, give my young 
friend Guilford a chance of winning a name that will give 
him the prince’s favor, and thus open a way to his advance¬ 
ment in the world ? ” 

“ I gainsay it no further, my good lord,” answered Ed¬ 
ward, with a cheerful smile. 

“ Hast thou finished those despatches for Paris ? ” inquired 
the earl. 

“ Yes, my lord.” 

“ Seal and address them. But first let me see the letter to 
the French king—for it is important that there be no error 
in it.” 

The earl took the paper and began reading in a low audible 
tone, as follows:— 

“ ‘ Your most Christian majesty will be pleased to learn 
that our august Prince Charles, since the disastrous defeat 
of his forces near Worcester, forty days ago, has hitherto 
eluded the efforts of Cromwell to take his person captive. I 
have certain information to convey to your majesty that he 
is hovering near the English south coast, and will embrace 
the first safe opportunity for embarking across the channel 
to find that safety in your dominions which your majesty, 
through me, has so courteously offered to him. It is to be 
ardently hoped that the prince will reach the French coast 
ere many days.’ ” 


120 


RED HAITD. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

AN EXCITING SCENE. 

The earl continued to read on for a few lines further, but 
in less audible manner, and then immediately returning the 
letter to the secretary, he said:— 

“ It is correctly copied and fairly writ. Seal.” 

“ You have forgotten to sign it, my lord.” 

“True.” 

The Earl Yilliers then took a pen in his left hand and 
made a capital Y, after which he placed a seal that he took 
from his sword hilt upon some wax that Edward had previ¬ 
ously placed for the reception of it. It was a shield, on 
which was a three-masted ship, and for a crest was a hand 
severed at the wrist. 

“ I wear this seal and badge till Cromwell loses his usurped 
throne, and then I resume my arms. I will yet make him 
wince the more as men say he does at hearing of Red Hand,^ 
his deadly foel Now I would have thee pen a letter to my 
fair daughter, at the convent St. Lo. It was four weeks 
since she wrote me the sweet missive which pleased me so, 
and I have deigned it no reply. Come, sir, thou art my 
right hand, and I would have thee write to a lady as I would 
have done in my younger days. Let the script be smaller 
than that in which thou hast writ to the French king, and 
by no means so large as that wherewith thou writest to our 
English barons. A handwriting for a lady’s eyes, let me 
teach thee, should be graceful in shape, neat in all its parts, 
of a pleasing fashion, and without mar or blot. I like well 
the Italian script for this business. Dost thou know it? ” 

“Yes, my lord; I have cultivated all styles, of Spain, of 
France, of Italy, and of Germany.’ 


RED HAKb. 


121 


“ Let U8 have that of Italy.” 

“lam ready.” 

“ Then say these words with thy own finish; for, by the 
rood! I am better skilled in ropes and ships than in the art 
of penmanship. Now to thy task:— 

“ Fair daughter Jenny:— Thy sweet billet came duly 
into my hand, and was read with pride and satisfaction. It 
pleases me that thou art so happily content with thy present 
abode, and that the abbess doth her best to give thee such 
entertainment as becometh thy goodness and my daughter. 
Thou wilt pardon this long delay between my answer and 
thy letter; but this is a busy season since the mishap to the 
prince’s army, and I am compelled to keep astir, and mostly 
on the sea, for I am hoping to give the prince the opportunity 
of getting off from the coast in my ship, which would be the 
proudest event of thy father’s life to aid his prince in being 
successful in escaping from his enemies. Thou hast heard 
ere this how he has been hunted in Scotland; but getting 
into England, he is now wandering near the coast, and must 
soon either fall into the hands of his enemies or get safely 
over to France. If he reach Paris, I shall not fail to go 
there to give him my homage, in which case I will pass St. 
Lo and take thee with me; for thy education is by this time 
well on to its close—and what thou lackest in thy head, thy 
face’s beauty will make up.. Edward Percy telleth me that 
thou hast grown wonderfully fair. He will be the bearer of 
this, and I would fain commend him (here there lurked a 
smiling expression in the corner of the earl’s eye) to thy 
courtesy and attention, for he hath my confidence and love. 
Heaven bless thee, fair daughter Jenny, and soon place thee 
in the arms of thy loving father, 

“ Arthur, Earl of Villiers.” 

This letter having been duly penned by the youthful 
secretary. Red Hand settled himself upon his couch and gave 
himself up to the proposed sleep which he so much needed, 
while Edward continued writing at the escritoire. 


ilED HAND. 


i^2 

At length the day broke, and the earl, rising, went to the 
deck. His keen eye surveyed the horizon. Three or four 
vessels were in sight, one of which, far to the eastward, was 
made out to be a brig-of-war; but as she showed no colors, 
her nature could not be made out—though as she was near 
the French coast, she was supposed to be a vessel of that 
nation. Some dozen fishing vessels were also seen running 
about. Upon all these Bed Hand directed the long, heavy 
telescope of that day, and then, having swept the French 
coast near which he was sailing, he suddenly gave orders to 
put about; for up to that time, since Guilford had left her in 
the yacht during the proceeding night,^she had been steering 
nearly west. The island of Alderney lay about two leagues 
distant abeam, when they tacked ship. 

“ Lay her course east-northeast,” said Bed Hand. “ We 
will run up the channel and keep cruising between Nor¬ 
mandy and Sussex, for we may be so fortunate as to fall in 
with some of the fugitives crossing who will give us news 
of the prince. Keep a close watch on all the fishing boats, 
and run close to each of them, so that if any of the prince’s 
party be in them, we may take them on board.” 

The ship now stretched eastward under all her canvas, for 
the breeze was light from the south and south by west, and 
every sail had to be set to get six knots an hour out of her. 
The men, after they had breakfasted, were called to quarters 
and trained to the guns, to keep them in constant practice; 
for they were surrounded by hostile vessels, and might at any 
hour find themselves engaged in mortal conflict with some of 
Cromwell’s ships. In this manner, closely examining every 
craft, the royal cruiser of the channel kept on her course, 
the sight of her causing many an English trading vessel to 
up helm and fly for shelter towards the nearest land on the 
British side. 

It was about three o’clock in the afternoon, when the 
ship commanded by Bed Hand came nearly opposite Cape de 
la Hague, the land lying about five miles from her to the 


RED HANt). 


12^ 


eoutb, on the starboard beam. The wind had been light^tid 
baffling all day, and she had made but little progress since 
the morning, not having placed more than fifteen miles 
between her and the place where, at sunrise, she had put 
about to steer eastward up the channel. 

The vessels which had been visible from her deck in the 
morning had now all disappeared in their several directions, 
but others were in sight. The brig-of-war, which they had 
supposed to be a French vessel, had suffered the “ Prince 
Charles ” to come near enough for her to make out her 
character, when, without waiting for a more intimate ac¬ 
quaintance, and trusting to her heels, she hoisted the British 
fiag and ran for Portsmouth. Several fishing vessels, but 
chiefly Norman, had been brought to in the course of the 
fifteen miles run, but there was no one on board save the 
ordinary crews. Nor from two English fishing smacks which 
Red Hand brought to, could he learn anything of any fugitive 
having been seen on the coast, or having crossed to France. 

About half-past three in the afternoon, as the earl was 
about to give orders to alter the course of his ship, and run 
into Cherbourg, the lookout aloft called lustily from his 
perch:— 

“ Sail hoi 

“ Where away ? ” demanded the officer of the deck, making 
use of the same nautical phrsaeology which for more than 
two hundred years has been customary in the English navy. 

“ Three points abaft the larboard beam.” 

The earl glanced over the quarter, and saw a vessel, at 
some distance yet, but the appearance of which caused him 
to call quickly for his telescope. When it was handed to 
him, he rested it upon a ratline of the mizzen rigging and 
leveled it upon the stranger. There were a dozen other 
vessels in sight in other directions, but they were all made 
out to be either traders or coasters or fishermen, save one, 
which was to the north and east, but which seemed to be 
coming down hand over hand, bringing a fine topsail breeze 
along with her. 


i24 


feEB HAi^D. 


“ What do you make her out, my lord ? ” asked Edward, 
who stood near the earl, assisting his one arm in keeping 
the glass steady. 

“ A confounded large ship, and with iron teeth enough to 
eat two such mouthfuls as we are.” 

“ A ship of the largest class, my lord ? ” 

“ Yes, and one of Cromwell’s bull-dogs. I know her well 
by her stump topmasts. It is the Leviathan, and is twice 
our metal. She has a breeze with her, too, and seems to be 
steering dead for us.” 

“ You may be sure, my lord, she knows who we are.” 

“ Without doubt. We have boarded crafts enough since 
morning to report us in that quarter.” 

“ My lord,” said the quartermaster, who had been for 
some minutes inspecting the ship in the northern board. 

“ Well, Claypole, what now ? ” 

“ The chap there a-weather is coming down with a bone 
in his teeth. He has an ugly look about the muzzle.” 

‘‘ If he comes too near, we will spoil his muzzle for him, 
if that is the case,” said the earl, cheerfully; for he was one 
of those chivalrous natures that take delight in the accumu¬ 
lation of dangers. “ The fellow off the quarter has also a 
breeze, while we lay as quiet here as if we were at our 
anchors. Have supper for the men early, and then have all 
hands to quarters,” he called out. “We shall hardly get 
away from these two inquisitive gentlemen who are coming 
down this way to look at us, without a brush.” 

At hearing this, the whole quarter deck was in excite¬ 
ment. The officers smiled and exchanged congratulations 
with each other at the prospect of a battle, while the rumor 
flying forward among the men, infused a spirit of belligerency 
into their bosoms that completely changed the whole aspect 
of things. One would have thought that the happiest intel¬ 
ligence had reached them, instead of the report that two 
large, armed foes were coming down upon them, probably 
to attack them, and possibly destroy them and their vessel. 
But if the faces of the officers and men brightened, the 


RED HAND. 


125 


countenance of their chief, Red Hand, shone with courage 
and warlike anticipation. Already, in numerous instances, 
had he met the ships of the usurper and conquered them; 
and so frequent, bold and successful had been his assaults 
upon ships, castles, and even towns on the coast, that in 
proportion as people held his name in awe, his own confidence 
in his invincibility had increased. 

Cape de la Hague, opposite which the ship of the earl lay, 
scarcely in motion for want of wind, has two horns, and in 
the bay between them lies the town of Cherbourg. This 
port was in full sight, not two leagues from the ship; while 
astern and ahead, but a league to leeward, lay the two capes. 
To the northward the faint blue line of the coasts of Sussex 
and the Isle of Wight were visible forty miles off. A little 
astern, and about seven miles distant, was the larger ship, 
the Leviathan, coming down on the wind, and steering as 
if running quietly for Cherbourg. Forward of the beam, in 
the northern board, also was to be seen the other ship, steer¬ 
ing also for Cherbourg, though as this was a French port, 
there was no probability of their being bound there; but as 
the Prince Charles lay directly in the track to this port, this 
vessel was very clearly the object at which they were aiming. 
There were some half a score of small craft in sight and far 
distant there were two or three English fishing boats. 

The men at length had their supper, and the oflScers also, 
so that the after cabins, with the bulkheads removed, were 
soon turned into open decks with men at the guns. At 
length, about four o’clock, the Leviathan came so near as to 
show her ports to the naked eye of the men on the channel 
cruiser; but the wind had got ahead of her, and Red Hand was 
able to manage his vessel under motion with a five-knot breeze. 

The ship which was coming from the coast of England was 
now near enough for her guns to be counted; but instead 
of keeping on for the Prince Charles, she suddenly hauled 
her wind and stood even six or seven points eastward. 

“ That is a new manoeuvre,” exclaimed Red Hand, as he 
saw it; and catching up his glass, he directed it towards her. 


126 


RED HAND. 


“ She is in chase of a fishing smack I ” he cried. “ I see the 
smack about two miles ahead of her to the south, and evi¬ 
dently flying from her. They are wetting her sails and 
using their oars. There must be something more than usual 
in the wind for a frigate to turn out of her course to chase a 
fishing-vessel I Crowd ever}' stitch of canvas upon the ship, 
sirl ” he ordered, in tones of animation. 

“ The smack is making for the French coast as fast as she 
can make speed,” said the quartermaster, with his eye to his 
glass. 

The whole attention of every one on board the cruiser was 
now directed to the frigate and the fugitive fishing-smack. 
If there had been any doubt in the minds of any one as to 
the object which had turned the English vessel from her 
course, it was now removed by her firing at long shot at the 
escaping little craft. 

“ Crowd on all I—every yard of sail I ” shouted the earl. 

We must cut the frigate off from her chase. Ten to one 
there is some one of the prince’s friends in her, and the 
glass of the captain of the frigate has detected him.” 

All on board was now intense enthusiasm. Every nautical 
art was brought into use to increase the ship’s velocity, and 
enable her to cut off the fishing-smack. The latter had full 
five miles yet to sail before she could reach the French 
shore. She was aiming for the little fishing port of Fes- 
champs, beyond the cape. On her starboard quarter, not 
two and a half miles distant, and pressing all canvas after, 
and firing at intervals, was the frigate we have spoken of, 
and from the rapidity with which she gained on her, there 
was every prospect of her capturing the prize for which she 
seemed to be straining all her nerve. 

The cruiser Prince Charles was about a mile and a half 
from the fishing smack, and so had a mile advantage of the 
frigate for cutting her off; yet, as she had to run°all this 
distance to interpose herself between them, it was feared by 
Red Hand that the smack might be destroyed by the shot of 
tlie frigate^ therefore^ ^s soon as he capae \yithju I'ange, 


RED HAND. 


127 


opened his larboard battery upon her in the most spirited 
cannonade. This, as he expected, drew the fire of the frigate 
upon him; but she did not cease to crowd sail in chase of 
the boat, nor to send balls after her from one of her bow 
chasers. 

“ I will soon put an end to this double game,” said the 
earl; and bringing his ship into the wind, he opened broad¬ 
side after broadside upon her so effectually that she had 
enough to do to take care of herself and return it. In the 
midst of the battle, which every moment grew hotter, Ed¬ 
ward, who had kept his eye upon the smack with the 
telescope, exclaimed:— 

“ She has been hit, my lord, and the fishermen are trying 
to keep her from sinking. But ho, my lordl There is the 
woman we saw, who has thrown off her gown, and now is 
working in a man’s dress. It is a man, my lordl ” 

“ Then by the mass, it must be a disguised exile I Let me 
see.” 

The earl took the glass and leveled it at the boat, which 
had her mainmast shot away, and which was filling fast with 
water. 

“ You are right. There are five men now, and no woman I 
That was a disguise. How know we but the fortunes of 
England are in that sinking boat ? Square away the yards I” 
he cried, “ and let us go to the succor of the boat, so that if 
there be any one in her of note we can give him aid. Keep 
your batteries playing lively, my lords,” he called to his 
ofllcers. “ We have knocked the frigate’s quarter railing to 
pieces, and crippled her foremast; but she is doing her best 
to come up with the sinking smack. But we will be ahead 
of herl ” 

Red Hand now took a position on the bow of his ship, and 
kept his glass upon the smack. Both vessels are now about 
half a mile distant from the fishing-boat, and drawing nearer 
under constant firing, to the point at which both aimed. 

“It is the prince I ” shouted one of the officers, who had 
t>eeii for some moments looking at the sm^ci?} which, bavmg 


128 


EED HAND. 


been cleared from water, the persons in it were once more 
pulling towards the French coast. 

“ Who ?—where ? ” demanded Ked Hand, to whom he 
stood near on the bow. 

“ The man at the smack’s helm, steering. Look well, my 
lord I He has his hat off, and 1 can clearly distinguish his 
features, and his long black hair, and his very figure and 
air, too.” 

The earl himself now took the spy-glass. He looked 
through it a moment, and then cried, with emotion:— 

“ It is he! It is the prince! We must save him! Blow 
this infernal frigate out of the water! Double shot your 
guns, my men! The prince, our king, is in yonder sinking 
bark, trying to escape for his life and crown! Fire red hot 
shot! Make your iron-throated guns roar! See how the 
frigate gains! Blow her into the air, or they will seize our 
king from our very grasp! ” 

The ship reeled, and seemed rent in every seam by the 
terrible discharge of the whole of her broadside at once into 
the frigate at scarcely musket-shot range. The iron storm 
that rushed through the air seemed to be obedient to the 
fierce mandate of the chief. One of the red-hot shot must 
have penetrated to the magazine, for scarcely had the roar of 
the discharge ceased, when it was followed by an explosion 
more appalling than human ears ever heard. The very sur¬ 
face of the water vibrated and swang from side to side, and 
the whole heavens seemed rent, while spars, bodies and 
limbs of men and even cannon, flew through the air, which 
was filled with shrieks and groans of anguish too horrible for 
description. 

Every man on board the cruiser stood petrified and amazed. 
Not a word was spoken, not a gun fired, not a foot moved 
for full a minute, till the last fragment had fallen into the 
sea, and the ruined ship, with a painful lurch, descended, a 
huge coffin of dead and dying, beneath the surface of the sea. 

“ That was the most fearful thing I ever witnessed,” said 
Bed Hand, who was the first to break silence. “ But it is 


RED HAKD. 


129 


the fate of war. Come, men, do not stand stupefied. It 
has saved our prince! Behold the royal Charles himself 
standing at the helm and steering that fishing-smack yonder! 
In a few minutes we shall have him safe on board. His life 
is cheaply purchased by the five hundred disloyal lives that 
have now just been sacrificed to his safety.” 

We will now return to the smack, on board which we left 
the prince asleep, whilo Guilford, at the helm, was guiding 
his little vessel with skill and speed across the Channel. At 
one period both the nobles laid down in the bottom of the 
boat and slept also; so that the smack was for several hours 
wholly under the eye of Guilford and Robin. Hot long after 
the two noblemen had fallen into repose, a small trading 
lugger passed them, standing towards the Sussex coast. Its 
owner was well known to be a smuggler, and Guilford, though 
he knew him well, as he belonged to Brighthelmstone, had 
never any intercourse with him. This man steered his lugger 
a little out of her course, in order to pass close to the smack, 
which Guilford perceiving tried to prevent; for he did not 
wish to have the two fugitives who were lying in the bottom 
of his little vessel, asleep, discovered by him. The lugger, 
however, kept away for him, and came close under his bows. 

“ Halloo, Master Guilford! ” he hailed; “ what luck to-day? 
Methinks you keep well over to the French coast, when at 
this tide thou shouldst know thou wilt find the fish plentiest 
off the Isle of Wight.” 

“ How dost thou know but that I am bound as thou hast 
been to France, to get a cargo of brandies ? ” replied Guil¬ 
ford, in no good humor. 

“Ah, by my head it would be an honest errand; ay, an 
honester one, may be,” added the man, standing up and 
stretching his long neck to look over into the smack, for he 
had brought his lugger almost dead into the wind’s eye as he 
was talking—“ honester than smuggling over king’s men. I 
see thou hast a pair! Rare birds, my lad. How many 
golden louis dost this day’s fishing bring thee ? ” 

“ Go and mind thy own business, man,” responded Robin. 

0 


4. 


130 


EED HAND. 


“ That will I, and thine too,” responded the man, with an 
evil light in his eyes. “ It will be hardly safe for thee to 
land foot again on Sussex shore if I get there afore ye.” 

With these words of menace he let his main sheet fly, and 
before the wind went on his way towards the English shore. 

“ That man will do as he says, Robin. It will be hardly 
safe for either you or me to go back at present.” 

“ That it won’t, Guilford. But I hope no harm will come 
upon Anne and thy mother.” 

“ No,” answered Guilford; “ they will scarcely dare harm 
them for our acts. Let us hope for the best.” 

“ And fear the worst for Anne.” 

“ It is but a poor courage, Robin, that is ever looking on 
the dark side. What we wish and believe will almost always 
come to pass. Let us believe and hope all will be safe with 
those we love.” 

“ How unlucky we should fall in with that bad man, Guil¬ 
ford 1 ” 

“ It is all for the best.” 

“ I wish I could think about things as quietly as you do. 
But the fellow can’t do us any harm, for we shall, get the 
prince across before any one can be sent after us.” 

“Yes, I hope so. If he should fall in with any of the 
channel watch-ships, which we have so fortunately eluded, 
he will give information and we shall be pursued. But as 
we are half way across the channel, I have little fear.” 

“ I don’t like the looks of the ship astern,” said Robin. 
“ She has ports, I am sure.” 

“ I can’t well make her out, but she can hardly notice us; 
and besides, she can’t be in chase of us, for she came from 
the Portsmouth direction.” 

Guilford, however, was in the wrong, for once. The 
frigate was a guarda coasta, and had been all the day over¬ 
hauling fishing-boats and examining them, and had seen the 
smack with other boats some time before. But being spoken 
by the lugger, the skipper of which pointed out the fishing- 
vessel, then a league ahead of the ship, as having two 


RED HAND. 


1J’.1 

fugitives on board, the frigate rewarded the man for his 
information and crowded on all sail in chase. 

When she had been running on this course some half an 
hour, the captain of the frigate made out Red Hand’s vessel 
and recognized the ship. Upon making known who she was 
his officers were by no means anxious to come into collision 
with the formidable captain, and proposed that the course of 
the frigate should be changed. To this, however, the com¬ 
mander firmly objected. The disastrous results of the chase 
the reader has already seen. 

When it began, Guilford had called up the prince and made 
known the exact danger they were in. Prince Charles then 
manifested the self-possession which always characterized 
him. Having closely observed the two vessels, both of which 
were standing towards him, and both of which he supposed 
to be enemies, he promptly gave directions for the manage¬ 
ment of their escape. By his suggestions, Guilford, Robin, 
and the two noblemen rowed with the four oars, and he 
himself took the helm, and at the same time kept the sails 
wet by throwing water upon them with a long-handled scoop 
which the smack carried for this purpose. 

“ She gains on us, your majesty,” said Guilford, whose 
practised eye could note with more accuracy than theirs the 
least variation of distance on the water. 

“ Which of the two. Master Guilford? ” asked the prince, 
now looking at the frigate astern and now at Red Hand’s 
ship, both of which were equally distant from the smack. 

“ Both of them I see now gain. But the ship to the west 
is, I believe, a friend, my prince I ” suddenly exclaimed 
Guilford. 

“ A friend? Then welcome to her I But, by the mace of 
King Cole, Master Guilford, there is but poor chance of a 
fugitive like me finding a friend in a Cromwell ship.” 

“ I do believe, your majesty, it is the Earl Red Hand’s 
channel cruiser.” 

“ Earl VilliersI ” cried the prince, with animation. “ The 
good angels grant it be I But I fear you are mistato^” 


RED HAND. 


“ No, my lord—I mean your majesty ”- 

“ Let my majesty alone, good Master Graham,’^ said the 
prince. 

“Nay, shall I not call thee my prince?” 

“ If thou wilt. Art sure of the vessel ?—for the stout earl 
is one of the staunchest friends I and England have at this 
dark day.” 

“ I can’t be mistaken, my prince,” responded Guilford, 
with animation. “ I recognize the poop and the castle on 
her bow; for I was on board of her only last night.” 

“ True. The good stars of my house now aid me. Blow, 
sweet winds 1 But nay I the same wind that giveth her to us 
bringeth our foe.” 

“Your majesty,” said Lord Algernon, the gray-bearded 
noble, “that must be the Earl Yilliers, for that is not the 
English flag which he has just hoisted.” 

“ It is the blue flag with a red hand in the centre I ” cried 
the Scottish lord, with a kindling eye. “ It is the earl’s ship.” 

“ Then there is hope for us yeti But there comes an iron 
ball after us,” added the prince, as a jet of smoke belched 
from the bow of the frigate which had the English cross 
flying at her mast head; and a shot came bounding over the 
waves, dashing the spray upon them as it whizzed past. 

Another, and a third shot followed, and then they beheld 
the ship of the earl come to the wind and open her cannonade. 
The scene to the eyes of the prince and all with him was so 
intensely interesting, as they gazed upon the fierce battle 
between the two ships, that for a moment they forgot to row. 
But they were reminded of their duty by a shot from the 
frigate, which struck their boat just forward of the beam, on 
the bulge of the bow, and cut her down to the water’s edge. 
Instantly they became aware of their peril, and as the boat 
began to fill, Guilford sprang towards the prince, and placed 
in his hands a thwart, saying that it would buoy him up if 
the boat went down. 

“ Thanks, my brave friend; but what will become of thee ? ” 
said the princej seeing that the two lords held the other planks. 


ItlED HAND. 


‘‘ 1 will take care of myself. If thou art saved, my prince, 
my poor life will be offered for thy safety.’’ 

“ That may not be. Can’t we save her ? ” 

“Yes, perhaps we can float, if the noble cavaliers will aid 
to bale out with their hats.” 

“That we will do,” responded the prince; and throwing 
off the gown, which until now he had worn, he set the 
example. 

Robin, in the meanwhile, tried to stop the rush of water 
by throwing his body into the gap—an expedient which was 
successful, for soon the little vessel began to rise from the 
flood and float with more buoyancy. But all their efforts 
were fora moment suspended by the terrific explosion, which 
forced them from their enemy astern in the awful manner 
we have already described. 

“ Merciful heaven assoilize their poor soulsl” reverently 
ejaculated the prince, as he saw the brave ship plunge head¬ 
long beneath the sea with its mass of life. 

The swell of the sea that followed the immersion of so 
large a bulk tossed the smack wildly about, and it required 
all their united aid to keep her from going down. On all 
sides were seen the black heads of swimmers, who were 
calling for aid; for at least six score of the crew were thrown 
by the explosion unhurt into the sea. 

“We cannot aid thee, wretches,” said the prince, “ for we 
are in a strait equal to thine. All our hopes depend on the 
present approach of the earl’s ship.” 

This vessel was now within five hundred fathoms of the 
smack, which could be scarcely kept afloat. Upon her bow 
stood Red Hand, calling out manfully to the prince:— 

“ Keep up heart, my royal master! A few seconds more 
and we will reach you! Down with the boats, but first for 
me! ” he added. 

The warlike, castellated ship now got within her length of 
the smack, when the earl sprang into a boat alongside, and 
pulled by a dozen strong arms, and the next moment had the 
prince’s hand in his, and drew him from the foundering 


1^4 


EEb HAi^b. 


fishing vessel into his own barge. Instantly he dropped on 
his knees before him, and with tears in his eyes kissed his 
hands. 

“ O my prince I my escaped, my beloved and royal CharlesI” 
The air at the same time was rent with loud huzzas for Prince 
Charles, and for a few moments it seemed as if every man 
in the boats and on the ship were beside themselves. Some 
shouted, some wept, some huzzaed, some danced over the 
decks, others embraced, and all was joy and glad uproar. 

Escorted by the earl. Prince Charles ascended the side of 
the ship, and then every officer pressed around him, knelt 
before him, and embraced him, weeping like children. 
Charles himself could scarcely see for the emotions that 
blinded his own eyes with tears. He recognized this one and 
that one, and called them by name, and kissed on the cheek 
some of those whom he had once known most intimately. 

“ Now, your highness,” said Ked Hand, whose war-worn 
cheeks were wet with tears of delight, “ let me lead thee 
into my cabin.” 

“ Nay, not till I have presented to thee and all my friends 
the brave young man to whom I owe my escape from Eng¬ 
land. Where is he ? ” 

The prince then looked around for Guilford, and also for 
Robin, but was told they were in the smack, which some of 
the sailors were aiding them in saving from sinking. He 
then called to him to leave the boat and come on board. 


1 


RED HAND. 


135 


CHAPTER XIX. 

A NEW DANGER—KED HAND’S DEVOTION. 

When Guilford, in obedience to the command of the 
prince, came over the ship’s side, and the eyes of the Earl 
Red Hand fell upon him, the latter exclaimed with surprise 
and pleasure:— 

“ What I dost thou owe thy secure flight from the shores 
of Britain to this young man, your majesty ? ” 

“Yes; and never will I forget my obligations to him. 
Advance, Master Guilford, and let me present thee as my 
deliverer to these, my noble friends.” 

“ By the rood. Sir Guilford I ” said the earl, as he warmly 
grasped his hand, “ thou art in luck. Thy star is in the 
ascendant. Thou art the most fortunate man born I Come, 
thou shalt tell me how it has been thy fortune to be of such 
service to England’s king.” 

“ My lord,” said Edward, who had already exchanged a 
grasp of the hand with Guilford, “ the men in the boats wish 
to know if they shall save the poor devils who are swimming 
about the ship ? ” 

“What,” exclaimed the prince, “the wretches thrown 
into the water by the explosion of the frigate ? ” 

“ Yes, your highness,” answered Red Hand. 

“ By all means I Pick them up to a man, and be diligent I 
They are all my British subjects. You have room for them, 
my good Yilliers ? ” 

“ Yes, your majesty, as prisoners,” answered Red Hand, 
with a slight cloud upon his brow. “ But I have little favor 
for the villains who placed my prince’s life in jeopardy.” 

“ Let that pass I We must be humane, my dear earl. But 
what ship have we standing down so bravely this way ? ” 


186 


RED HAKD. 


“ That is a Parliament war vessel, your majesty,” an¬ 
swered Red Hand, who had been so much occupied with the 
rescue and reception of the prince as to be heedless of the 
approach of this vessel, until now she was within a league, 
and booming down upon them under her enormous spread of 
canvas. 

Red Hand, having escorted the prince to his cabin, and 
ordered refreshments at once to be placed before him and 
the two noblemen, hastened from his presence, and ascend¬ 
ing the highest part of the stern, called Edward to his side. 

“ Place the telescope in rest here, and let me have a sight 
at this monster, for I begin to fear that the prince, now that 
he is on board of us, would be safer anywhere else.” 

“ There is great danger, my lord,” answered Edward. 
“ She is certainly coming on us fast since we stopped to taek 
the prince on board.” 

“ Yes, that she is, and she is already training her guns 
upon us. Make all saill ” he shouted, like the tones of a 
battle trumpet. “ Every man to his posti Boats, aboard! 
If there are any more men to be picked up, let the ship 
astern look after them. Cast overboard a dozen spars for the 
miserable wretches to float on. Sail all! We must save the 
prince from capture! ” 

At the sound of his ringing commands all was activity from 
stem to stern. The boats were hoisted up, and Robin had 
the regret to see his smack, to which no repairs could be 
made, drop astern, and at length slowly disappear beneath 
the tide. 

But all that the good ship could do, she could not make 
her way beyond the reach of the Leviathan’s long guns, one 
of which was now fired upon her at the farthest range. The 
shot fell astern a quarter of a mile; but the second shot, 
which soon followed, dropped into the ship’s wake. 

“ The game is up,” said the earl. “ It will not do for the 
prince to stay half an hour longer on board, for that ship will 
blow me out of the water, unless I can work to windward— 
and then it is doubtful if we can get away from her.” 


llED HAND. 


This was spoken to a group of officers whom he had called 
around him on the deck, while the prince was regaling himself 
with the wines and acceptable fare he had placed before him. 

“We are caught in this bay of Havre de Grace, and must 
either run ashore or fight.” 

“It would be madness, my lord, to fight such a ship, 
twice our size,” said his officers. 

“ I know it. My mind is made up. We must let the 
prince go. There is the village of Feschamps under our lee, 
not five miles distant. And there flies a French fisherman 
straight into the port. Fire a gun forward, and bring the 
boat to.” 

The order was no sooner given than obeyed, and a small 
fly-sail boat with one mast, which was darting over the 
water, landward, like a swallow on the wing, suddenly low¬ 
ering its triangular sail waited the approach of the ship. In 
the meanwhile, the earl entered the cabin where the prince 
was at his repast with his two friends. 

“ This is a feast, my dear earl, fit to set before a king,” 
said the prince, laughing. “ I have not dined so well in 
many a day. By the rood I if you keep us so well here in 
your castle of the sea, we shall be induced to be long your 
guests.” 

“ Gladly would I have your majesty my guest as long as 
it may please you to honor my poor vessel with your royal 
presence. But I regret to say that I have come, your maj¬ 
esty, to warn you that we are not safe even here, though 
you are surrounded by brave hearts and loyal; these may 
bleed for you, but they cannot protect you against the foe 
that menaces your safety.” 

“ What now ? Have I to fiy again so soon, my dear earl ?” 
said the prince, with a slight shade of discontent on his 
brow. “ I was indulging the hope that for a day or two I 
should find here repose and quiet.” 

“ So I hoped, your highness. Please cast your eyes out of 
the stern window, and you will see one of the largest of 
Cromwell’s ships in chase of us. It will be impossible for 
me to cope with so formidable an antagonist; and I have 
come to beg your majesty to take refuge on board a French 
fishing vessel now alongside.” 

“ I am in your hands, my dear earl and my lords,” an¬ 
swered the prince, rising. “ But to whom am I to entrust 
myself?” 

“ Two Frenchmen—an old man and a boy, your highness.” 
u.\.“ I will take with me my two trusty English friends, Gra¬ 
ham and Bobin; with them I shall feel secure.” 


KED 


ias 

Upon reaching the gangway, the prince asked Guilford if 
he would still accompany him and see him safely on Frenth 
ground. 

Our young hero very joyfully complied with the prince’s 
wish, and at the same time with the prince the two lords who 
had come with him got into the fishing-boat. Edward also 
made one of the party, laden with the packets with which 
the earl had entrusted him. 

“ Now farewell, my brave earl, and my lords and gentle¬ 
men. I hope, if any of you come to Paris, you will not fail 
to call on me; and I trust heaven will one day send us all 
better fortunes.” 

With this courteous parting speech, the prince raised and 
waved his chapeau to the officers and also to the men, who 
crowded the rigging and bulwarks to see him depart. The 
earl lingered on board the French boat the last of all, and 
having embraced the prince, he extended his hand to 
Guilford. 

“ I see you need no aid from me, my brave young friend. 
If the prince comes to his own, you will go up with him; 
that I can prophesy, without being a prophet.” 

The fishing-boat was now cast off from the side of the 
ship, and Guilford, by the command of Prince Charles, took 
the helm from the old Norman fisherman, who had the 
while regarded with a sort of bewilderment this sumimary 
disposition of his little vessel. 

“ Where will you land, my prince ? ” asked Guilford, as he 
took the helm. 

“ What village is that in the south of that bay ? ” 

“ Feschamps, your majesty.” 

“Good I I will land there. We can reach it in an hour, 
think you? ” 

“ Yes, your majesty. The wind is fair and free.” 

“ And so are the shot, it would seem, from yonder huge 
W'ar ship,” responded Charles, as a heavy iron missile from 
the double-decker flew above their heads with an appalling 
roar. 

The earl, who had seen the shot pass his own vessel to 
windward, at once gallantly steered his ship so as to place 
her in the line between the Ashing-vessel which contained 
the prince and the enemy; for he saw that they were direct¬ 
ing their Are towards it, as if they suspected it contained 
some important personage. 

When Prince Charles saw this manoeuvre, whereby the 
ship completely protected the boat from the double-decker’s 
guns, he said, with emotion;— 


JlED fiAKI). 


iWd 

“ What a true heart that brave Arthur of the Eed Hand, 
as men term him, has in his manly and loyal bosom! He is 
ready to receive the whole fire of the formidable foe to 
protect his prince. It is worth the dangers and privations 
I have undergone for me to learn the devotion of my 
friends. Everywhere I have found trusty confidants, and in 
no instance have I been betrayed.” 

The fishing-boat now bounded merrily over the water, 
nearing the land each moment; but the sense of escape and 
safety was modified on the prince’s part by the danger in 
which he now saw his courageous earl placed. Without 
attempting to run away from his enemy, but only trying to 
keep his vessel as a shield to cover the prince’s retreat, the 
earl held his ship in the wind, and received in his hull a 
shower of iron balls that were hurled upon him from the 
Leviathan, which kept belching forth fire and smoke. 

At length, when the earl saw that the fishing-vessel was 
beyond the reach of the double-decker’s guns, and close 
under the landj quite beyond all danger of capture, he 
proceeded to fight his vessel out of the dangerous situation 
in the best manner he was able. But after firing three 
broadsides, which had no effect upon the double-decker, 
which drew nearer every moment, he called his officers about 
him. 

“ My lords and loyal gentlemen: you need not be told of 
the imminent peril we are in. The fate of our noble ship is 
sealed. It is impossible for us to save her. Our only hope 
for our own safety is to square away and run for the French 
coast, and strand her and set her on fire. We have saved 
the prince! Already he is within hail of the coast, where 
he will find an asylum and protection. With this let us be 
content. If we lose our ship, we shall have the proud con¬ 
sciousness of knowing that we sacrificed her for our beloved 
prince’s safety. There remains now but a choice between 
captivity and the capture of our vessel, or her destruction 
by our own hands, and our safety on French soil. I shall, 
therefore, with your consent, give orders to steer straight 
for the land.” 

The oflScers were all of the earl’s mind, and the next 
moment the gallant ship, already greatly crippled by the 
Leviathan’s heavy targeting, squared her yards and drove 
straight for the beach, which extended out in front of the 
town of Cherbourg. The earl would gladly have landed her 
near Feschamps, but a reef running out in front of that 
place would have caught the ship half a mile before she could 
reach the main land. 


140 


EED HAKt). 


The Leviathan no sooner found the ship was making for 
the land, than she came into the wind, and gave her one and 
then another broadside. But through the storm of iron the 
brave ship held her way, though her spars were splintered, 
her rigging cut, her timbers wounded, and her scuppers 
running blood from her slaughtered crew. Onward she held 
her course, till at length she had only her foremast aud 
single foresail remaining. Yet with this squared to the wind, 
she drove forward, staggering and helpless, while the shores 
of Cherbourg were thronged with citizens, who, by their 
shouts, encouraged those on board. The Jjcviathau came 
to about a mile from the town for want of sufficient deptli of 
water, and lowering a fleet of boats sent them in after the 
ship, which could scarcely creep along for her wounds. But 
at length she struck the shore, and a score of boats from the 
land came off to land the crew. They were soon filled, but 
Bed Hand remained last with a dozen of his men. 

“ We will give them a parting salute,” he said, quietly. 

The guns on the larboard battery had been previously 
shotted, and as the ship in grounding had swung beam on 
the land, her battery bore directly on the flotilla of boats. 
The latter were pulling in with a perseverance and boldness 
that showed their determination to take the ship, though she 
were in a friendly port; but in those days the privileges of 
neutrality were not so sacredly regarded by nautical men as 
they are at the present day. 

When the boats of the Parliament ship had got within half 
a mile. Red Hand gave the signal by touching off the after 
gun with his own hand. The others were discharged in 
rapid succession, and the earl, amid the smoke, after setting 
fire to his ship, left her to her fate. 

The effect of the broadside upon the advancing boats was 
prodigious; so that itw^as said that Red Hand had slain more 
men in the last hour of his command on the channel, than in 
all his fourteen years’ cruisings. Out of nine boats, but 
three reached the Leviathan, the others having been de¬ 
stroyed by the final fire of the Royal Charles. 

The earl stood upon the shore and witnessed with a sad 
heart the conflagration of his fine ship, as in the dusk of 
evening she shot up tongues of lurid flame to the sky, illu¬ 
minating town and port, harbor and shore, sea and clouds 
with a brilliant flame, and night closed over a scene of 
appalling interest and excitement. 


BED HAND. 


141 


CHAPTER XX. 

THE PRINCE’S STAR IN THE ASCENDANT. 

The earl and his oflScers were hospitably entertained that 
Qight by the citizens of Cherbourg, who, when they learned 
that Prince Charles had safely landed in Prance, illuminated 
their city with joy; for the French of all classes had a great 
horror of Cromwell, and although they knew little of Prince 
Charles, the fact that he was the legitimate heir to the 
British throne was enough to bind him to the sympathy of 
the loyal, and, in that day, king-loving people. 

The next day the earl, whose renown made him no incon¬ 
siderable mark of curiosity, quitted Cherbourg for St. Lo, 
where his daughter, the fair Lady Jane, was placed for 
security and education. He was accompanied by several of 
his oflScers, who from thence were to accompany ■ him to 
Paris, where they hoped to meet the prince, of whose safe 
landing at Feschamps the earl had heard through Edward, 
who had joined him at Cherbourg. 

“And what became of my brave friend Guilford?” 
asked the earl. 

“ He accompanied the prince, by his request, to Paris. I 
saw them depart, with the youth, and Robin, mounted on 
horsea furnished by the mayor of Feschamps. Lords Alger¬ 
non and Catesby also accompanied his majesty; and they 
hoped to reach Paris in eighteen hours.” 

At St. Lo the earl received his daughter, who joined the 
cavalcade, and riding more especially under the care of the 
youthful secretary, she was escorted to the metropolis. 

The subsequent events connected with the arrival of the 
prince in France, and his retiring and establishing a court 
in Holland of the nobles who had followed him, are such 
common matters of history that we need not dwell on them 
in our story, but carry our narrative forward to the period 
when the sun of his fortunes once more rose above the 
horizon and lighted him to the throne of his ancestors. 

Cromwell, after an unparalleled usurpation of nine years, 
at length died, contrary to the expectation of his enemies, 
peacefully upon his bedj^ and naming his sou Richard as his 


142 


RED HAND. 


successor. But this person possessed none of the ambition, 
or statesmanlike talents, or war-like spirit of his father; and 
after a brief exercise of the power bequeathed to him, 
resigned it into the hands of Parliament. England was now 
without a head; and all hearts were turned to the youthful 
Prince Charles, who still remained in Holland, where he 
surrounded himself by a brilliant court. To him a messenger 
was despatched by the Parliament, offering to reinstate iTim 
on the throne of the realm, on certain conditions. 

The prince, when the Parliament’s courier was announced, 
was dining at a table at which were seated a score of his 
nobles, among whom were Lord Algernon, the Scottish lord, 
Catesby, and last, not least, Arthur of the Red Hand, Earl 
of Yilliers. 

When the prince received the packet from the hand of 
Lord Rudolph, who was the messenger, his brow darkened 
as he perused it, the expression of his face being all the 
while closely watched by his friends, who forgot the banquet 
in their anxiety to learn the news from England. But when 
he came to the close of it, a smile curled his lip. 

“News from London, my lords! You will excuse me 
while I withdraw to give a response. My lord,” he added, 
addressing the Earl of Villiers, “ you will please retire to 
my cabinet with me.” 

He also named four other noblemen, and then rising, he 
took his leave and departed from the banquet-room. Upon 
reaching his cabinet he closed the door, but first gave orders 
to have Lord Rudolph Vane, the courier, hospitably enter¬ 
tained with all honor. 

“ See to it, Guilford,” he said, turning to our hero, who 
had left the table with him at his command, and now followed 
into the cabinet. 

“Your majesty could perhaps hardly appoint a less 
acceptable host to Lord Rudolph,” answered Guilford, with 
a slight color of embarrassment. 

“ True, true—I had forgotten. My Lord Granville,” 
added the prince, “ I pray you take care of Lord Vane’s 
comfort. We must not treat discourteously our Parliament’s 
messenger.” 

“ I obey your majesty,” answered the nobleman, retiring. 

“ Now, my lords,” said the king, “ hear our words. The 
brave and loyal General Monk, who seems to be standino- 
just now in Cromwell’s shoes in England, writes me, thal 
DOW Richard, the sod, has resigned his power, he is ready 
to offer me my father’s throne, provided that I will submit 


RED HAND. 


143 


to and put my signature to certain conditions-the very 
conditions which will make me recreant to my royal father’s 
memory, and be, as it were, an endorser of the justice of his 
murder. By the soul of the Confessor, I will bind myself 
to no conditions to regain that which is lawfully mine I My 
lords, I will nevertheless advise with you.” 

“ May it please your majesty to read to us such passages 
of General Monk’s letter as may enable us to advise your 
majesty ? ” 

Listen:— 

‘ Your majesty’s restoration is the wish of my breast. 
That achieved, I am prepared to lay down all power and 
retire to private life. I am at the head of an army of ten 
thousand men. I am encamped near London. I have power 
to wield the Parliament at my will. As yet they do not 
suspect my intentions, which alone I now reveal to your 
majesty. If your majesty will consent to the conditions 
herewith enclosed, I can safely invite your majesty to Lon¬ 
don, and ensure you a public reception that will surpass any 
public entry of a monarch since the days of the Conqueror. 
These conditions I know the Parliament will insist on, and 
therefore I would get them from your hand in order that 
when 1 propose your restoration to this body, I may be able 
on the spot to shut their mouths to all objections. I 
despatch my friend Lord Yane as the special bearer of this 
missive. Do not delay a reply, I entreat your majesty; and 
I pray do not refuse to comply with conditions, without 
which I fear the restoration can never be effected. The 
hearts of the people are with your majesty.” 

“ Now, my lords, here are the conditions.” 

The prince then read from a paper enclosed in the letter 
the conditions, which history has made familiar to every 
reader. 

“ You perceive, my friends,” he said, when he had con¬ 
cluded, “ what chains they would shackle us with.” 

“Nay, your majesty,” said the earl, “but rather with 
what rivets they would strengthen your throne.” 

“ Ha, do you think that way, my lord ? ” 

“ I do, your majesty. The people no doubt would receive 
you without condition; but Parliament must be humored.” 

“ I will truckle to none of them! ” 

“ Nay, your majesty, but something must be yielded on 
account of the disjointed state of the times and the imper¬ 
fections of men’s loyalty.” 

“Well, you no doubt counsel wisely. Guilford! ” 


144 


RED HAND. 


“ Your majesty,” answered the young fisherman, who 
stood near an escritoire, a little in the rear of the king. He 
was dressed in a handsome suit of plum-colored velvet, 
richly embroidered, a silken vest and laced doublet, and his 
hair flowed long an^ waving upon his shapely shoulders. In 
the interval of two or three years since we last parted with 
him, a change has been made, not only in his appearance, 
but in his position. The prince had become personally 
attached to him from the day he had assisted in effecting 
his escape from England, and gave him a position near his 
own person, as his private secretary, a situation of responsi¬ 
bility, which Guilford’s talents and address—thanks to his 
mother’s good education—enabled him to fill with credit and 
honor. At length he became so useful to the prince that 
the latter could hardly bear his absence; and he always con¬ 
sulted him on all matters before bringing them before his 
nobles; and after any council, at which Guilford was ever 
present as secretary, he would talk over with him the' 
debates, and search his opinions upon what had been dis¬ 
cussed. By this means our hero not only made himself 
signally useful to the prince, but as he always had his ear, 
he held an influence in the eyes of the nobles which gave 
him a consideration that even rank would not have gained 
him. If any lord had any suit to prefer, any scheme to for¬ 
ward, Guilford was first made a confidant, with the request 
that he would bespeak the prince in favor of the applicant. 
The agreeable person, the engaging and unaffected manners, 
and the elegant address of the young attendant of the prince 
made him a universal favorite; and even envy was silenced, 
when it was remembered that the young secretary was only 
receiving in this favor of his prince his just reward in having 
brought him from England to France and saved him from 
his foes. 

Robin, who had no talents for a court, and who had no high 
aspirations, after remaining a few months in Paris, and hear¬ 
ing that the smuggler who had seen him in the smack had 
been shot, returned to Brighthelmstonej where he made the 
heart of the widow glad by the intelligence he brought of 
Guilford’s prosperity and favor with the prince. Soon after¬ 
wards he married the pretty Anne, and taking up his abode 
in the cottage, pursued the same occupation as formerly, and 
sometimes even going in his fishing trips quite to the coast 
of France, to convey and receive letters that passed between 
the prince and his friends in England. There were letters, 
also, whicb were not strictly of a political nature, of which 


RED HAND. 


145 


he was the bearer, inasmuch as they were handed him by the 
Lady Catharine, and addressed to “The Rt. Worshipful 
Guilford Graham, Secretary to His Majesty Prince Charles.” 

“Guilford,” now said the prince, after having got the 
mind of his nobles, “ sit thee down and write to the gallant 
General Monk these words:— 

“ ‘ We, Charles Rex, having received your fair letter, give 
you thanks from our heart for the loyal spirit which hath 
prompted thee to make the offer of your aid to restore us to 
our throne. But inasmuch as our subscription to the terms 
you lay down, which are the same in defence whereof our 
august father lost his head, we cannot subscribe to them in 
full, but will arrange these conditions when we come into 
England, to the satisfaction of our Parliament. We pledge 
ourselves, however, and here witness our hand, that we will 
do nothing contrary to the constitution of our realm. If this 
pledge be satisfactory, we will, on hearing from you to this 
effect, let nothing delay our return to England. 

(Signed in presence of our council of lords.) 

Charles R.’ ” 

“ Well, my lords, will that suit you ? ” asked the king, 
looking round upon each face, and finally resting his dark 
eyes full upon the face of Earl Villiers of the Red Hand. 

“ It is as much as becomes your majesty to say,” answered 
the lords. 

“ Then it shall go I Seal and direct it to General Monk, 
Guilford. Now, gentlemen, we will return to the banquet- 
room.” 

The king’s cheerful countenance as he re-entered the hall, 
gave all hearts hope; and then he said, to cheer them, “It 
is good news, my friends; the star of our future begins to 
brighten. Within three weeks, if nothing happens, I hope 
we shall see merry England once more.” 

Upon hearing this the whole company of noble exiles 
started to their feet and made the hall ring with three loud 
British huzzas. 

The banquet was once more about to be resumed, when 
Lord Rudolph, who was invited by the king to be seated on 
his right, seeing the Earl Villiers seated next to him, rose 
and drew back, clapping his left hand upon the hilt of his 
sword. 

“ What, sol How is this ? ” demanded the king. 

10 


146 


RED HAND. 


“ I have a feud of blood with the Earl Yilliers, and cannot 
sit by him,” answered Lord Rudolph, with a fierce counte¬ 
nance. “ Your majesty will excuse me. I will at my hotel 
await your answer to General Monk.” 

With these words he quickly strode out of the hall. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

LORD RUDOLPH’S DASTARDLY ACT. 

The abrupt departure of the fiery noble caused a momen¬ 
tary excitement. The prince looked displeased. The earl 
smiled haughtily, and young Edward Percy, recently become 
Earl Percy, stole out after the noble. But he had no sooner 
reached the vestibule, than he saw Lord Rudolph draw his 
sword, and with the flat of it strike Guilford, who at the 
moment was walking across the corridor. Our hero had 
remained a few moments in the cabinet to seal and address 
the letter to General Monk, and when he was returning to 
the hall, he met Lord Rudolph face to face. The latter, the 
way being narrowed by two columns, on recognizing him 
cried:— 

“ Stand aside, dog I ” 

Guilford’s sword was in his hand, but recollecting that he 
was the brother of Lady Kate, he suppressed his rising 
resentment, and was passing him, when, as we have said. 
Lord Rudolph struck him in the face. 

“Now, by the rood,” said young Edward Percy, as he 
beheld the blow, “ if Guilford stand this, he hath caitiff’s 
blood in him indeed.” 

Guilford, however, kept his sword point down, and would 
have gone by him, when Rudolph spat upon him, accom- 
panjing the act with an epithet of derision. 

The forbearance of our hero was now at an end. He 
forgot Lady Kate’s brother in his own insulter. Throwing 



RED HAND. 


147 


himself upon him, he took his sword from him and broke it 
upon the pavement, and then, with the eye of a lion, he 
glanced upon him with contempt, and was going into the 
hall, when the prince and several nobles rushed forth, having 
heard the scuffle. 

“ What means this ? What is this drawing swords in our 
very presence ? The person of an ambassador is sacred. 
Guilford, you are under arrest.” 

“ Your majesty,” said the young Earl Percy, “ Guilford is 
not to blame. Lord Rudolph insulted him, and he bore it; 
he then struck him, and yet he bore it; he then spat upon 
him, and your secretary took his sword from him, and broke 
it under his feet, as you see there.” 

“ Then it is Lord Rudolph Vane that hath done this dis¬ 
courtesy,” said the prince, reddening with anger. “My 
lord, I supposed thou hast come hither to us as a messenger 
of peace, not a maker of brawls.” 

“ I shall not give account of my conduct to one who has 
neither the right nor the power to exact it,” answered Lord 
Rudolph, haughtily. 

“ This to the prince’s face! ” exclaimed Earl Percy, with 
a flashing eye. 

“ Nay, Edward. We can forgive this rudeness.” 

“ I would punish it, your majesty, but that he hath but 
one hand, and it would not be taking him on fair terms,” 
answered Edward. 

Lord Rudolph had kept his right arm wrapped in his 
cloak, a custom which he had followed ever since his recovery 
from his wounded wrist. He now thundered back, forget¬ 
ting that Red Hand was present:— 

“ Thou liest! ” 

“What! But we will make thee show thyself a liar!” 
retorted Edward; and suddenly tearing open his cloak, he 
exposed the handless wrist. There was a shout of surprise 
from all around; and Lord Rudolph, with his left hand, caught 
Edward’s sword and made a thrust so deadly at the young 
earl, that he would have run him through the body, but for 
the interposition of Guilford, who received the point of the 
blade in his sleeve, at the risk of having his arm pierced. 

“This must be stopped, by our head!” cried Prince 
Charles. “ Arrest Lord Rudolph! ” 

But before he could be obeyed, the savage young noble 
bounded from the corridor, and leaping into his saddle, 
spurred away at full speed, followed by the cries of derision 
and scorn of the assembled nobles. 

IQ 


148 


RED HAND. 


“ Now, by our halidom, my friends,” cried the prince, 
“ this unfortunate matter, if reported with distorted tongue 
in England, will do us a mischief and mar our fortune. He 
must not be suffered to embark and bear his own tale until I 
have forwarded my message with the despatches. After my 
letter reaches our general’s hands. Lord Vane can do no 
mischief, whatsoever he may say. Guilford I ” 

“ Your majesty ? ” 

“ Prepare to proceed at once to London.” 

“ I am ready, your majesty.” 

“ Then leave at once. You will find passage easy across 
the channel with the help of gold. Here is my purse. You 
have the packet. Go, and heaven speed thee, and bring 
thee safely back to us with good tidings. My Lord Villiers, 
please you see that this hot-brained Lord Vane'does not 
take boat till Guilford hath been full twenty-four hours in 
his advance.” 

“ I will see to it, your majesty,” answered the earl, who 
at once quitted the prince’s presence. 

In another hour, Guilford was on his way to the seaside, 
mounted on a fleet steed, the letters of which he was the 
bearer being tied about him beneath his belt, which also held 
his well-filled purse of gold. He had to ride seven leagues 
before reaching the sea. He knew that he had already the 
start of Lord Rudolph, who, still expecting to take back the 
prince’s answer, had ridden to his hotel. Here he soon 
learned, by a visit from one of the prince’s pages, that an¬ 
other bearer had been selected by the prince. No sooner had 
he been made acquainted with the fact, than he called for 
his horse and servants, and was preparing to depart for the 
coast, when Earl Yilliers met him at the door, and said, 
sternly:— 

“ My lord, I am commanded by my prince to detain your 
lordship for twenty-four hours.” 

“ Whatl ami a prisoner?” demanded Lord Vane fiercely, 
and turning pale. 

“ That may be as you construe it. You are not to leave 
the town until twenty-four hours have passed.” 

“ This is unbearable! and you, of all men, my jailer! ” 

“ I see thou lovest me not. But one cannot choose his 
friends or enemies in this world, my lord. In such cases we 
must be patient.” 

Lord Vane looked at the earl as if he could annihilate him, 
and then returning to his apartments paced his floor in 
suppressed rage. 


kEt) HANi). 


Ut) 

In the meanwhile Guilford spurred forward, and about 
midnight, by the light of a bright moon, he came in sight of 
the shining waters of the sea. His road terminated at a 
small hamlet composed of a few Dutch houses. Hot a vessel 
was to be seen in this harbor save the brigantine in which 
Lord Rudolph had come over, and which lay off waiting his 
return. This he was bound to avoid, lest he should be too 
closely questioned, and after riding along the coast four 
miles, he saw a lonely hut, and at a little pier near it, a 
fishing lugger. This he succeeded in hiring of the old man, 
and soon embarked to cross to England. The wind was 
light, but fair, and on the fourth day he landed near the 
mouth of the Thames, and detaining the boat for his return, 
he hired a horse and rode on to London. He reached the 
metropolis just as the sun was rising on the morning of the 
fifth day since leaving the presence of his prince. Putting 
up at an inn near the Parliament house, he inquired for 
direction to General Monk. 

“ What, wilt thou list with him ? ” asked mine host. “ It 
is said he pays well, though his army hath a beggarly look, 
and not a good wife can keep an egg or a bit of poultry 
within a circuit of ten miles about his camp. If thou wouldst 
join him, thou wilt find his headquarters at Smithfield; but 
if thou wilt wait an hour thou wilt see him go by here to his 
house, near the St. James’s Palace, where he does business 
with the Parliament.” 

“ The Parliament are governed pretty much by the gen¬ 
eral’s opinions, are they not ? ” asked Guilford. 

“ No, sir cavalier, for they don’t know exactly what they 
are. The old fellow is secret as a mason; but at heart, we 
believe he is for our Charley over the water, and would be 
glad to see the restoration.” 

“ And the people at large—do they wish for the prince ? ” 

“ Do they ? They would darken the very skies with their 
caps in the air, if he should come into London, to-day. Ah, 
he is a brave prince, and we all love him. We dare to say so 
now Cromwell’s day is gone; but once it was as much as 
an honest man’s head was worth to speak about him.” 

While Guilford was talking with the communicative and 
loyal host, there was heard up the street a shouting of men, 
and then the clangor of a bugle, and a moment afterwards 
the cry on all sides:— 

“ Monk I Monk I Here comes the general I ” 

Guilford’s blood bounded. He was more interested than 
all others in his coming, and as he rode past, accompanied 


160 


ilEb HAND. 


by half a dozen field officers and an orderly or two, with a 
body guard of eighty horses bringing up the rear, he could 
not but regard with deep interest the man who held the reins 
of the power of England, not for himself, but for the j^rince, 
his master. 

Without delay he followed the troop of horses, and at length 
reached a stately mansion, before which he saw General 
Monk alight and enter. He was about to pass forward to 
ascend the steps, when he was put back by a dragoon, who 
said:— 

“ Not BO fast, sir cavalier. No one enters here without an 
order—no they don’t.” 

Guilford looked hard in the man’s face, for he thought he 
recognized the voice. But a huge red beard and a fiery 
moustache defeated at first his scrutiny. But the man him¬ 
self aided him in the matter, for, after regarding Guilford 
attentively, he said, in a gratified manner:— 

“ Is not this Master Guilford Graham ? ” 

“Thou sayest truly,” answered Guilford; “but if thou 
knowest me, do not speak it out so loudly.’”^ 

“ And dost thou not know me ? I dare say I look too 
warlike for you to see through me. I am Digby—your old 
friend Digby.” 

“TooyDigbyl Verily, you are no longer like yourself. 
Thou a dragoon ? ” 

“ Marry come up I What would you have a man do? I 
got my head broke so often by Cromwell’s troopers, that I 
learned the knack o’ head-breaking myself. So, what with 
fighting, I got my blood up, and when Monk’s sergeants 
came down to our town ’listing, I was one o’ the first to 
enlist. It’s a brave life, so long as we don’t have any fight¬ 
ing. But, bless us, they say you are with Prince Charles, 
over the sea, and that he has made a lord of you I ” 

“ The prince can hardly make lords where he is, honest 
Digby. I am glad to see thee such a changed man, and 
doing so well.” 

“ What art thou doing in England, Master Guilford ? ” 

“ I would see General Monk. Can you let me pass for old 
companion’s sake ? ” 

“Marry, that will I. Go in; and when thou hast done 
thine errand, wait till I am off guard, and we’ll have a rare 
gossip o’ bygones.” 

With these words the trooper drew aside and let Guilford 
pass. Going by several officers who stood in the hall, he 
came to an orderly, who stood near an inner door, and said 


RED HATO. iSi 

that he desired to have a word of importance with the 
general. 

“ Your name?” 

“ It is of no consequence. Say I have letters to him from 
France.” 

Upon hearing this, there was a murmur in the hall of sur¬ 
prise and expectation from the military men and others in 
waiting, and Guilford was si;rutinizcd with curiosity. 

“ A messenger from France! a courier from the prince! ” 
went buzzing from lip to lip. 

“His excellency desires to see you,” said the orderly, 
reappearing after a moment’s absence. 

Guilford, all travel-worn as he was, entered the apartment 
of the commander-in-chief of the army. The general bent 
his eyes upon him as he came towards him, and then said, 
courteously, yet with animation:— 

“ Did I understand my orderly aright ? Do you bring 
letters from France ? ” 

“ Yes, your excellency, from the prince.” 

“ From his majesty! ” exclaimed the general, with a look 
of pleasure. “ But how is this ? Where is Lord Rudolph 
Vane?” 

“ He arrived, and placed your letters in the prince’s hands; 
but when the reply which I now bear was ready, he got into 
an altercation with some of the nobles and others, and gave 
some offence to the prince, who intrusted the letters to me, 
who holds the place of his private secretary.” 

“You are then Sir Guilford Graham ? ” 

“At your excellency’s service,” answered our hero, as he 
placed the packet, which he had by this time unbuckled from 
his girdle, in the general’s hands. 

“ I am glad to see you and to know you. I have heard 
how the prince owes his escape from England to your 
undaunted courage and constant devotion.” 

Thus speaking, the general broke the seal of the letter and 
read it. Guilford, who had been at Paris knighted by the 
prince, in token of his gratitude, and who also, at the same 
time, had received from the French king the order of a 
chevalier, now marked closely each change in the expression 
of General Monk’s countenance. Having penned the letter 
himself, he knew every line of it, and could clearly distin¬ 
guish what the sentences were at which he frowned, and 
those which seemed to give him pleasure. At length he 
turned towards the secretary, and, with a mixed expression 
of dissatisfaction and pleasure, he said:— 


152 


liED HAITD, 


“ Sir Guilford, do you know the contents of this letter 
“ I do, your excellency.” 

“lam sorry the prince refuses to sign the conditions, but 
it cannot be helped. We must do as well as we can with 
what he says. It may satisfy the Parliament. But how left 
you the prince ? ” 

“ In good health, your excellency.” 

“ And the Earl Villiers—was he well ? and the Barons 
Algernon and Catesby, and also my Lord of Percy? ” 

“ I left them all well, your excellency.” 

“ I hope soon to see them with their royal master all in 
England. What day did you leave the prince ? ” 

“ This is the fifth, your excellency.” 

“ You have made despatch. The Parliament is now in 
session. I am going thither. You must accompany me. Sir 
Guilford. I will make known to them that the prince has 
sent a messenger to them.” 

“Yes, your excellency. There are duplicates of the letter 
you have, one addressed to yourself, and the other inscribed, 
as you perceive, to the Parliament.” 

Here Guilford showed him a letter which the prince had 
given him in case it should be called for. 

“ This is very good. The seal remains un\)roken, and it is 
addressed to the Parliament. I will take you with me at 
once to the hall. Your presence will do a great deal, as a 
courier from the king.” 

The general then left the apartment, and, passing through 
the saloon where his staff were, called, “ To horse I ” 

All was now excitement and motion. Every gentleman 
hastened to his saddle; Digby, who resolved not to lose the 
opportunity of having a gossip of bygone times with his 
former acquaintance, had kept a sharp eye on the door for 
some time. But when he saw him reappear walking side 
by side with General Monk, and heard the general order a 
horse to be brought to Guilford, and saw the deference and 
honor which the commander of the army paid to him, his 
amazement was so great as nearly to stupefy him. 

“ What aileth thee, man ? ” called ®ne of his comrades to 
him. “ Are thine eyes going to quit thy head ? Fall in with 
thy horse into the rank. Dost not hear that we are ordered 
to fall in and trot ? ” 

Digby mechanically obeyed the order. But he shook his 
head, and, with a downcast look, he said to himself:— 

“ My gossip is all up. Master Guilford has become a great 
man. I heard he was a lord, and it must be true.” 


UED HAND. 




At the door of the House of Commons, General Monk 
alighted and entered the hall, leaving Guilford in the vesti¬ 
bule. When Monk found that the Commons had still come 
to no decision, and seeing that all hearts were for the prince, 
though not a lip dare utter his name, he stood up and said:— 

“ Gentlemen, the time is come when England should have 
rest. No plan of government has been proposed. I will 
propose none; but I have just placed in the hands of your 
president of the council a slip of paper, on which I have 
hastily written a line with a pencil. You will please read it 
aloud, my Lord Annesley.” 

Every eye was fixed upon the president. All hearts 
throbbed with anxious expectation. Some thought it would 
give them the information that the prince was privately in 
London; others that General Monk himself had taken this 
method to make known his own intentions of assuming the 
protectorate. The president, however, soon removed all 
speculations by reading as follows:— 

“ General Monk desires to make known to the house of 
Commons that a messenger from the prince arrived in 
London this morning”- 

Here there was such a sensation and demonstrations of 
satisfaction so loud that the president could not proceed. At 
length, order and silence being in some degree restored, he 
resumed:— 

“The messenger is the private secretary of his majesty. Sir 
Guilford Graham, and is now at the door of the house waiting 
to deliver a letter of which he is bearer to the Commons.” 

Upon hearing this, there arose one universal shout from 
the members of the House; and cries of “-Admit him! Admit 
himl ” were heard vociferously. 

As Guilford entered, bareheaded, and walked up the aisle, 
escorted by General Monk, nothing could exceed the enthusi¬ 
asm with which he was received. The members, says history, 
“ for a moment forgot the dignity of their situation, and in¬ 
dulged for several minutes in loud acclamations of applause.” 

Modestly, yet firmly, the youthful baronet, Sir Guilford, 
walked up to the head of the hall and placed the letter in the 
hands of the president. The hall was silent as the tomb 
while the letter was read. When it was concluded, or rather 
while he was reading the final sentence, all at once the house 
burst into one universal assent of the king’s proposals, and 
immediately a vote was taken that the letter should be pub¬ 
lished. A vote of thanks was also passed to Sir Guilford; and 
as all had heard of him as having been the person who had 


154 


Um HAND. 


taken the prince to France, there was a twofold motive for 
their crowding around him and overwhelming him with con¬ 
gratulations. He was taken home to dine with General Monk 
and a large party of lords and gentlemen, and bore all his 
honors with a grace and modesty that won all hearts. The 
same evening, he left London with the answer of the Com¬ 
mons and an invitation to the king to return and ascend the 
throne. The bearer of such joyful news, he could not obey 
the impulses of his love to turn aside to visit Castle Vane, 
and he hastened, as fast as spur and wind could carry him, 
to rejoin his prince, and lay at his feet the triumphant results 
of his mission. Upon landing from the fishing-lugger, which 
had taken him safely back to Holland, our hero delayed only 
to reward the owner of the boat, and then, mounting his 
horse, which had been kept there waiting for him, he took 
the road to the town where the prince held his little court. 
He had not ridden, however, but a league and a half, when a 
woman called to him from a wretched house on the roadside, 
and asked him to come in for one moment and see a man who 
was dying. 

Prompt to obey the impulses of humanity, Guilford dis¬ 
mounted at the low door, and crossed the threshold. By the 
light which came in from a small square window above a 
miserable truckle-bed, he saw, to his amazement. Lord 
Kudolph lying, and in the last extremity of life. Upon 
seeing him thus prostrate, all resentment fled from Sir Guil¬ 
ford’s bosom, and he spoke to him in the kindest manner, 
and asked what he could do for his repose of mind; for he 
remembered Lady Kate, and that this was her brother. Ko 
sooner did Lord Vane hear Guilford’s voice, than he opened 
his eyes and fixed them glaringly upon him. 

“ What art thou come for? Thou, of all meni ” he said, 
“Bring the Bed Hand, and then I shall be well attended.” 
“ My lord, I am thy friend. Can I serve thee ? ” 

“ Who art thou? ” 

“ Guilford Graham.” 

“Yes. A knave! Thou wouldst rob me of my sister! 
Thou hast bewitched her—thou and thy mother!—given her 
love-potions! Avaunt! I despise thee! I spue at thee! ” 

‘‘ 1 am sorry, my lord, to see you lying here in this con¬ 
dition. How has it occurred ? ” 

But the nobleman had exhausted his strength in his last 
efforts to speak, and lay panting and glaring fiercely at him. 

“ His servant robbed and shot him near by,” said the 
woman. “We found him bleeding and insensible nine days 


HEI) hand. 




ago, and brought him in, where he has grown worse ever 
since, and raves and curses fearfully.” 

“ Yes; I have cursed thee and Lord Villiers. Seel One 
has robbed me of my hand,” and here he held up the inflamed 
stump of his wrist, and shook it at Guilford, “ and the other 
has robbed me of my sister I ” 

“ My lord, you should cease to think of worldly matters,” 
said Guilford kindly. “ Turn your thoughts heavenward, for 
methinks that thou hast not many minutes to live.” 

“ And these I will spend in cursing thee, and telling thee 
how I hate thee. Thou a baronet! Thou a prince’s confi¬ 
dant! Thou take my place as courier to the Parliament! I 
spit at thee! Go and tell Bed Hand the robber that I spent 
my last breath in cursing him and thee! ” 

“ My lord, I implore—I entreat, for thy sister’s sake, make 
thy peace with heaven ”- 

But Guilford paused and said no more. The fallen jaw— 
the set eyes—the motionless face—all told him that death had 
claimed his soul. 

Upon reaching the palace of the prince, his majesty was 
pacing up and down the corridor with Earl Villiers, while 
several noblemen were lounging near in groups. Ho sooner 
was the rapid rider recognized to be Sir Guilford Graham, 
than his name was repeated by twenty voices; and Charles, 
stopping in his walk, waited to receive him, with his band 
extended in welcome. Passing by the eager nobles, Sir 
Guilford reached the king, and, dropping on one knee, kissed 
his hand, and then placed in it the letter of the Commons. 
The king tore the seal, and read half through it to himself, 
when, seeing that it was all good news, he read it aloud:— 

“ ‘ Therefore we, the Commons of England, do accede to 
your majesty’s propositions with joy, and do invite your 
majesty to return to England and ascend the throne of your 
fathers, and we will ever be your majesty’s loyal and faithful 
subjects, and ever pray for the health and life of your 
majesty as in duty bound.’ ” 

“ First let me embrace thee, my trusty friend and welcome 
bearer of such good tidings! ” cried the king, with tears in 
his eyes, clasping Guilford to his heart before all his nobles, 
while they rent the air with acclamations of joy such as the 
Dutch palace and the honest Dutch people had never wit¬ 
nessed before. The earl also embraced Guilford, and so did 
Edward, Earl of Percy. That day and night were passed in 
pleasurable enjoyment, and in the reception by the king. 


156 


l^ED HAND. 


In a few days afterwards, King Charles and full tw6 
hundred lords and gentlemen left the town for the coast in 
an imposing cavalcade. Here a ship-of-war—the very Levi¬ 
athan which had been so near capturing him, but which had 
now changed masters—was waiting to receive him, by order 
of the Commons, and bear him to the shores of England. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

LORD VANE AND LADY CATHARINE AT COURT. 

The inhabitants of the little fishing port of Brighthelm- 
stone were one morning thrown into no little excitement by 
the arrival of a brigantine in the port, the sails of which were 
shrouded in black, and the flag wreathed with crape, while 
festoons of it hung from mast to mast. At length a boat 
landed, and from the sailors, after the officer had proceeded 
to Castle Vane, the good folks learned that it contained the 
body of Lord Rudolph who had been murdered in Holland, 
and for whose body the marquis, his father, had sent. 

A procession of boats escorted it to the landing below the 
castle, where it was received by the father of the young 
nobleman. The same evening, it was placed in the family 
vault, and the ensuing morning the brigantine, firing a 
requiem of minute-guns, slowly departed seaward. 

“ This attention to the obsequies of my misguided son, I 
learn by a note from Earl Villiers,” said the marquis to his 
daughter as they sat together in his cabinet talking of the 
dead, “ we owe to a Sir Guilford Graham, the king’s private 
secretary. Hast thou ever heard of this knight, my child, and 
knowest thou why he took this pains to honor my son ? ” 
Lady Catharine’s heart beat rapidly. She colored, and was 
about to make some confused reply, when he further said:— 
“ The Earl Villiers further says in his note that the king 
will hold a grand levee at the palace on the first Wednesday 
of next month, and that he desires that I should be present, 

and accompanied by thee, but”- 

“ But what, dear father ? ” 

“ It becomes us to mourn for Lord Rudolph.” 



RED HAND. J57 

‘‘ Yet we need not enter into the festivities. All friends 
of the king are hastening to London to do him homage.” 

“ True; and as Lord Rudolph was of the opposite side, I 
shall be looked to to make a more particular expression of 
attachment to the crown.” 

“ You will then go, dear father ? ” 

“ Yes. You may have everything ready.” 

This permission filled the bosom of Lady Catharine with 
joy. She was young, beautiful and gay, and desired to see 
something of the world from which she had been so long 
shut out. 

“ Besides,” said she, “ I shall see Guilford in London, for 
I learn he is in high favor with the king, and honored and 
loved by all men.” 

With a happy heart the charming countess left her father 
to make preparations for the coming visit to court. 

At length the eve of the great day of the king’s banquet 
and levee arrived. London was crowded with the nobility 
and their families. One spirit of satisfaction and delight 
pervaded all men’s minds. 

The Marquis of Vane and his daughter were at the 
mansion of the Earl of Villiers as his guests. The daughter 
of the earl, the fair Lady Jane, shone with surpassing radi¬ 
ance above all other maidens save Lady Kate. The two 
became very intimate, for they had known each other in 
earlier years. 

“And you are to marry to-morrow the handsome Earl of 
Perc}'^, fair Jenny ? ” said Lady Catharine to her friend, as 
she was arranging a circlet of bridal diamonds. 

“Yes; and I am told by my father that you are to marry 
the brave Lord Astley.” 

“ Lord Astley I I never saw him! ” answered Lady Kate, 
with great positiveness. 

“Well, that is odd. Both my dear Edward and my father 
told me to-day that you were to marry the noble Guilford, 
Lord Astley.” 

“ Guilford do you say his name is ? ” 

“ Yes; but why do you blush so ? ” 

“Did I?” 

“ Indeed, your face tells the truth. So we are to have a 
Lady Astley to-morrow at the palace as well as Lady 
Percy?” 

“ 1 assure you, dear Jenny, it is a mistake. I do not know 
Lord Astley. I only was surprised at the coincidence of a 
name,” 


158 


RED HAND. 


At this moment Red Hand, the tall and stately earl, came 
in, and smiling upon his daughter, he asked Lady Kate if 
she had heard any news from court that day in particular. 

“ No, my lord. I have not been out to-day.” 

“Rather,” exclaimed Lady Jane, “did you not tell me 
Lady Kate would probably marry Lord Astley to-morrow ? ” 

“ Yes, I think I did,” replied the earl, smiling. 

“ It is a mistake, my lord. I do not know his lordship.” 

“ But are you not to be married to-morrow, fair lady ? ” 
asked Lord Villiers, slyly. 

“How did you hear this, my lord?” she answered, in 
beautiful confusion. 

“ From Edward, who is an intimate friend of Guilford 
Graham, who told him, as a great secret, that it was all 
arranged, and that you were to be married to him before the 
king’s presence, in Westminster, to-morrow.” 

“ My lord, it is true; but not to this Lord Astley.” 

“But suppose— No matter. I will not tell what I see 
he has kept a secret. I wish you joy. You will have a hus¬ 
band so worthy in Guilford Graham, fair Kate, that no 
nobility can emulate him.” 

“ Thanks, my good lord.” 

“ Ah, I know all your romantic loves. Guilford, to whom 
I owed my life once, told me the whole story; and a credit¬ 
able one it was to you. But hither comes Earl Percy. So 
I will leave him to entertain you, for I have to attend on the 
king.” 

“My lord,” said the earl as he entered, “is it true that 
the king has appointed you commander-in-chief and full 
admiral of the fleet ? ” 

“ Yes, Edward; he conferred the post upon me yesterday, 
and next week I go on board my flag-ship at Portsmouth; 
for we are going to have war soon with Spain.” 

“ What is the name of your flag-ship ? ” asked Edward. 

“ The Leviathan, our old friend.” 

“How fortunes change in this life I ” ejaculated the earl. 

“ Do you know who I have chosen as my second in com¬ 
mand ? ” asked Lord Villiers. 

“ No; it is likely the Duke of Kent.” 

“No; Lord Astley.” 

“ What, Guilford ? I am overjoyed. Do you hear. Lady 
Kate ? How does it please you ? ” 

“Is it possible, my lord, that I have misunderstood you 
all this time, and that Guilford Graham and Lord Astley, 
of whom I hear so much, are one and the same persou ? ” 


RED HAND. 


159 


“ Yes, that is it,’’ answered the earl, with a merry laugh. 
“ And it is odd that you are the last to know that Sir Guilford 
was this morning ennobled with the title of Earl of Astley, 
and the rank of post>captain in the navy.” 

The joy and surprise of Lady Kate were expressed rather 
by her tears than by her smiles, though both struggled for 
the mastery on her happy face. She felt that her constancy, 
as well as the self-sacrificing spirit of Guilford, had been 
amply rewarded, and that, after all, she was to give her hand 
to a man her equal in rank every way, and one of the most 
popular men in the kingdom, who had the confidence of the 
king, the friendship of the nobility, and the respect of the 
people. Well might she say, as she cast herself into the 
arms of Lady Jane:— 

“ This is the happiest day of my life I ” 

The next day the palace was the centre of the thoughts of 
thousands and tens of thousands, of every rank and degree. 
The nobility flocked thither to banquet with the king and 
behold him in state elevated upon his throne. The masses 
came to see him pass in procession from the banquet-hall 
to Westminster, where the bridals were to take place. 

At five o’clock the ceremony of the marriages commenced. 
Eirst the handsome Earl of Percy led to the altar the lovely 
Lady Jane, daughter of Red Hand, Earl of Yilliers. She 
was given away "by her father, and the beauty of the happy 
pair made a lively impression of pleasure upon the vast 
assembly. 

Next advanced Guilford, Earl of Astley, leading by the 
hand the charming and constant Lady Catharine. At the 
sight of this pair a murmur of approbation ran through the 
cathedral. The history of Guilford was well known, and a 
thousand eyes sought to rest on the face of one who had 
risen from an humble fisher’s boy to be the confidant of his 
king and the peer of lords of the realm. In height, in 
comeliness of air, in commanding air, there was no high-born 
baron of them all who were present who surpassed him. 

The king himself gave away the bride, and at the conclu¬ 
sion of th^e benediction by the venerable Archbishop of 
Canterbury, the sacredness of the place did not wholly 
suppress very animated applauses and hearty wishes for their 
future happiness. 

We have now come to the close of our story. If our 
readers should ever visit the little fishing town of Bright- 
helmstone, in Sussex, the ruins of the Castle Vane may 
recall to their recollection this story. If they inquire for the 




ICO 


RED HAND. 


descendants of Lord Yane, they will be pointed to Astley 
Castle, a mile in the interior, where lives the present Earl 
of Astley, the lineal descendant of Guilford Graham, the 
first earl of that name. Over the gateway it will be seen 
that the arms are a tower with two oars crossed, and the 
motto, “ Loyal en Tout.” 

At the foot of the ruins of Castle Yane is an ancient stone 
cottage, which they will tell you, if you inquire, is “ King 
Charles’s Cottage.” If you go to the door and ask why it is 
so called, a stout fisherman in the yard mending his nets 
will answer that, many years ago, in “ the old Parliament 
times,” Prince Charles was hid there one night before he 
got away across the channel. If you ask the man his name, 
he will tell you that it is Robin Rengivell, and that he is a 
descendant, in the eighth generation, from Robin and Anne 
Rengivell, who dwelt there in the Parliament days, and 
Robin was one who aided the king’s escape. 

The descendants of Red Hand are still among the noblest 
of England’s aristocracy; and it is an inexplicable character¬ 
istic of the race, that every eldest son of the progressive 
generation is born with a distinct impress of a miniature 
red hand upon the inside of the left palm. 




-L. COLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878. ^ » 

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